Thirty-three fishing trawlers with 426 crew members and fishermen went missing in the Bay of Bengal after being caught in a sudden storm on Saturday.

Most of the fishing trawlers sailed from Patharghata Kalapara coasts of Barguna and Patuakhali on Thursday.

Meanwhile, pirates allegedly kept 180 fishermen and crew members of 15 trawlers hostage after the trawlers took shelter in the narrow canal of the Sundarbans during the storm. They demanded Tk 30 lakh as ransom for the trawlers and the crew members.

Barguna District Trawler Work-ers' Union president Dulal Master said local administration and police failed to rescue their men and property from the clutch of pirates. So, they are trying to contact the pirates directly to rescue the trawlers and freedom of hostages.

Abdul Mannan, owner of a trawler, has gone to Khulna to negotiate with the pirates to rescue the trawlers and freedom of hostages.

Barguna District Trawler Owners' Association president Golam Mustafa Chowdhury said a rescue team has been sent to Narkelbaria on board FB Lechu Shah in search of the crew and fishermen.

Meanwhile, seven trawlers with 91 crew members and fishermen returned to Patharghata and Kuakata coasts safely yesterday morning.