COX’SBAZAR: At least five people were killed and 25 others injured in a Thai ship in the Bay of Bengal as human traffickers attacked 320 people, who were going to Malaysia “illegally”.

The identity of the deceased could not be known immediately.

Coast Guard Station Commander Harun-or-Rashid and Cox’s Bazar ASP confirmed the matter to banglanews.

Zaiur Rahman, one of the ill-fated men boarded on the ship, told banglanews over phone: “Human traffickers made them boarded on a Thai ship Sunday and it didn’t start voyage though three days passed. The foods and water of the people were about to finish.”

He added: “So we gave pressure to traffickers to start voyage. Being angry to hear that, the traffickers opened fire on us and stabbed us severely with sharp weapons on Wednesday morning, leaving five killed and dozens injured.”

The Coast Guard has taken the ship to Saint Martins.

BDST: 1930 HRS, JUN 11, 2014