Bangladesh Navy and Coastguard arrested 23 pirates from the Bay and the Meghna river Saturday and Sunday, reports UNB.

UNB Bagerhat correspondent said acting on a tip-off, coast guard members arrested five pirates and also seized fishing nets worth Tk 0.9 million from their trawler in the Meghna Sunday morning.

The arrested were identified as Noor Nabi (28), Jahangir (30), Sagir Ahmed (45), Ahmed Bepari (50) and Bashirullah (48).

Zonal Commander of Coastguard South Zone ATM Ashraf said the pirates were arrested when they were trying to flee the scene after looting six fishing trawlers.

An ISPR press release said a petrol team of navy arrested 18 pirates near outer anchorage of Chittagong Port Saturday.

They were handed over to the local thana.