Police said pirates attacked four trawlers near Majhir Char in the Meghna and injured at least 20 Hilsha fishermen on Saturday. They looted fish and valuables worth Tk. 20 lakh from the trawlers. They also hijacked two other trawlers along with fishermen on board.

Another gang of pirates led by Manju Bepari attacked a fish unloading centre along the Meghna the same night. They looted Hilsha worth about Tk 10 lakh and abducted fish merchants named Jasim Majhi, Kamal and Dhilon.

When the pirates went to raid another fish unloading centre at Ramgoti in Laxmipur district, local people and fishermen jointly resisted them and besieged two trawlers of pirates and caught one of them named Billal. Later, the pirate was handed over to police.

On information, Bhola police conducted a raid on the pirates and rescued two fish merchants on Sunday night.