The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has repatriated 24 fishermen, including 18 Bangladeshi nationals and six Rohingya citizens, who were held by Myanmar’s armed rebel organisation Arakan Army (AA).
The fishermen were received on Wednesday by a BGB delegation at the zero line of Naf River and brought to Teknaf jetty.
Following their return, local public representatives and law enforcement agencies-initiated activities to verify their identities in preparation for handing them over to their families.
According to official data from the BGB, a total of 434 fishermen, comprising 222 Bangladeshi nationals and 212 Rohingya citizens, were detained by Arakan Army in Bay of Bengal while fishing between 1 January 2025 and 19 August 2026.
To date, a total of 348 fishermen have been returned, of whom 157 are Bangladeshi and 191 are Rohingya. However, 86 fishermen remain detained, including 65 Bangladeshi nationals and 21 Rohingya citizens.
The BGB stated that since 2025, several Bangladeshi fishermen had unintentionally crossed Bangladeshi maritime boundary into Myanmar’s territorial waters while fishing.
They were subsequently detained by Arakan Army and held in prisons or rebel-controlled territories.
On humanitarian grounds, BGB initiated communication and coordination with relevant Myanmar authorities to facilitate their step-by-step repatriation, culminating in the return of the 24 fishermen on Wednesday afternoon.
Lieutenant Colonel Md Hanifur Rahman Bhuiyan, commanding officer of Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB), said “Alongside border security, the BGB has always played a responsible role in ensuring the safety of the lives and assets of the country’s people.
Through the BGB’s professionalism, sincerity, and effective coordination in tackling humanitarian crises, it has been possible to bring the detained fishermen back to the country. The BGB is working tirelessly to protect the country’s sovereignty.”
The BGB added that efforts to safely bring back the remaining 86 detained fishermen are currently ongoing.
