COX'S BAZAR, July 25 -- Two Sri Lankan fishermen, a father and his son, who had been drifting in the Bay of Bengal for 36 days after their boat suffered an engine failure, were rescued and handed over to Maheshkhali Police on Saturday.

According to the rescued fishermen, their 'Danish boat' lost engine power while they were fishing in rough weather. The boat continued drifting and eventually entered Bangladesh's maritime territory.

They claimed that while they were stranded at sea, they were attacked by pirates, who took away all their belongings and supplies from the boat.

Local sources said fishermen from a fishing boat owned by Ziaur Rahman of South Para village under Kutubjom union in Maheshkhali spotted the stranded Danish boat ca...