Bangladeshi trawlers sink, 50 fishermen missing

BARISHAL, Bangladesh, Aug 2 (Reuters) At least 50 Bangladeshi fishermen were missing after four fishing trawlers sank in the Bay of Bengal during a storm today, police said.

Several fishing boats were searching the area for the missing, a police officer in Barishal coastal town, 300 km south of Dhaka, said.

Hundreds of fishermen are killed or go missing in storms in the Bay of Bengal every year.

Most Bangladeshi fishing boats lack safety and communication equipment and are unable to monitor weather forecasts.

Reuters LL GC1838