Bagerhat, Aug 10 (UNB) - Pirates kidnapped 36 fishermen along with three trawlers and looted valuables worth about Tk 12 lakh near Fairway Buoy of the Bay in Sharankhola upazila early Friday.

Five fishermen were also injured by the attackers.

Sheikh Idris Ali, general secretary of Bagerhat Coastal Matsyajibi Samity, told UNB that 15/20 pirates of Mortoza Bahini attacked over 100 fishermen when they along with 10 trawlers were catching hilsha.

They looted valuables, including hilsha and fishing net, worth Tk about 12 lakh and beat up five fishermen as they resisted, leaving them injured.

Before leaving the spot, the attackers kidnapped 36 fishermen along with three trawlers and demanded a ransom of Tk 50,000 for the release of each of the fishermen.

They threatened to kill the fishermen within a week if their demand went unheeded by the time.

Lt. Commander KM Mamunur Rashid, Staff Officer of Coast Guard Mongla (West Zone) Operation department, told UNB that they launched drive to rescue the kidnapped fishermen after receiving information about the incident.

Over 200 fishermen were kidnapped in separate attacks by pirates demanding ransom from Sundarbans and coastal areas here in the last three months.