Pirates abducted 20 fishermen from Chaltebari Canal in the Sundarbans on the night of December 7 and demanded Tk 5 lakh as ransom for their release.

Three of the abducted fishermen were released on December 9 on payment of Tk 50,000 by their relatives. The released fishermen are Nur Mohammad, 30, Jahangir Alam, 26, and Salam Gazi, 28, of Harinagar village in Shyamnagar upazila of Satkhira district.

The remaining 18 fishermen are now held hostage in deep forest and the pirates are demanding Tk 20,000 for release of each of them, police quoting the victims' relatives said.

The gang set December 14 as the deadline to give ransom. Otherwise, they (pirates) threatened to kill the fishermen.

The fishermen went to

the Sundarbans on December 4, taking permission from Kadamtala Forest Office. Pirates swooped on the fishermen when they were asleep in five boats in Chaltebari Canal.

The gang beat up the fishermen and looted money and other valuables from them, said Nur Mohammad who was released on payment of ransom.

Six of the abducted fishermen are Bakkar, 22, son of Gani Gazi, Nazmul, 31, son of Gafoor Gain, and Shajahan Gain, 32, of Harinagar village; Osman Gazi, 25, son of Farman Gazi of Chhotobhetkhali village and Rahim Gain, 38, son of Shawkat Gain of Munsjganj village in Shyamnagar upazila. The identity of 12 others could not be known.

Contacted, Kadamtala forest officer Shahidul Islam said they are trying to rescue the fishermen.