Five Bangladeshi fishermen were detained along with their trawler by Myanmar’s separatist Arakan Army near the Naf River in Teknaf upazila, Cox’s Bazar, on Tuesday night (17 February), officials and local sources said.
The incident occurred in the Naikhongdia estuary area of the Bay of Bengal, close to Shah Porir Dwip.
The detained fishermen were identified as Shah Alam, 20, son of the late Syed Alam; Abul Hossain, son of the late Noju Mia; Md Abbas, 40, son of the late Mokbul Ahmed; Abdul Sahed, 18, son of Abdul Majid; and Md Yunus, 40, son of the late Md Hossain. All are residents of the Jaliapara area of Shah Porir Dwip in Teknaf.
Trawler owner Mohammad Ullah said the boat had been returning from the Bay of Bengal near St Martin’s Island after fishing. As night fell upon reaching the Naikhongdia area, the crew anchored the vessel.
He said members of the Arakan Army arrived by speedboat and took the fishermen and the trawler away. The incident has caused concern among the families of the detainees.
Lieutenant Commander Aqib of the Coast Guard Chattogram Zone said the authorities were informed and contact had been made with Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB). Steps were under way to secure their return.
On 16 February, 73 fishermen earlier detained in the Bay of Bengal were repatriated from Arakan Army custody, including 66 Bangladeshis and seven forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals.
BGB said 124 fishermen were detained by the group between January and July 2025, with many later brought back through efforts by Teknaf 2 Battalion.
Clashes between Myanmar’s junta and the Arakan Army resumed in November 2023. On 8 December 2024, the group claimed control of about 271 kilometres of Rakhine State along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
