At least 11 people, including 10 river pirates, were killed and five policemen wounded on Wednesday in a gun battle on a river island in Bangladesh, police said.

The incident took place in an estuary of the river Meghna, Xinhua reported. The pirates abducted 20 fishermen and seized their boats. After getting information, police rushed to the spot and launched an attack that lasted for three hours, said Bashir Ahmed, police chief of Bhola district, 205 km from Dhaka.

He said the pirates killed one fisherman. At least 19 others were rescued by police.

Around 10 to 12 pirates fled the scene in two boats, he said.