The Arakan Army of Myanmar allegedly abducted 16 Rohingya and Bangladeshi fishermen from the Bay of Bengal on Tuesday, accusing them of intruding into Myanmar’s waters.
The armed group also seized three fishing trawlers, according to Sajed Ahmed, president of the Kayukkhali Boat Owners Association of Teknaf municipality in Cox’s Bazar. He reported the incident around 10pm.
With this latest incident, the Arakan Army has abducted 346 fishermen from areas adjacent to the Naf River and St Martin’s Island coasts over the past nine months.
Of them, nearly 200 fishermen have returned in the last six months with the assistance of Border Guard Bangladesh, but 146 remain missing.
Sajed said the Arakan Army detained six Rohingya fishermen from a trawler owned by Zakir of Collegepara in Teknaf while they were fishing in the Bay. Ten more fishermen aboard two other trawlers are also in the group’s custody, though their identities are still being confirmed.
The ongoing abductions and detentions have sparked panic among fishermen across the border.
The Myanmar-based Global Arakan Network reported that the Arakan Coastal Security Patrol conducted an operation 2.7 kilometres off the west coast of Thawain Chaung village in Maungdaw Township last Thursday. Six Bangladeshi fishermen and one trawler were detained, along with fish, nets, and Bangladeshi currency.
On the same day, two more trawlers were seized 3.58 kilometres off the coast of Rathedaung Township, and ten fishermen were taken away.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Ehsan Uddin said: “We have learned about the abduction of the trawlers and fishermen. The matter is being investigated. Simultaneously, law enforcement agencies deployed at the border have been instructed to look into it.”
Earlier on 12 November, the Arakan Army detained 13 Rohingya fishermen along with two trawlers, also on charges of crossing into Myanmar’s waters.
