Hughly was used as a base for piracy in the Bay of Bengal by

1. The question asks which European power used Hughly (Hooghly) as a base for piracy in the Bay of Bengal. 2. The Portuguese established a settlement at Hughly in the 16th century. 3. Alongside trade, the Portuguese at Hughly became involved in activities considered piracy by the Mughal Empire, including raiding coastal villages and engaging in slave trade, particularly in the eastern Bay of Bengal. 4. Their actions led to conflict with the Mughals, culminating in the capture of Hughly by Mughal forces under Shah Jahan in 1632, largely to suppress these activities. 5. While other European powers like the French, Danish, and British also had presence in the region later, the Portuguese are specifically noted for using Hughly as a base for extensive piracy and slave raiding in the early period.