Members of Myanmar’s armed rebel group, Arakan Army, entered Bangladesh’s territorial waters in broad daylight and abducted seven fishermen along with their boats and fishing nets.
The incident took place near the estuary of the Naf River adjacent to Shah Porir Dwip in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar.
According to local sources, around 3:30pm on Thursday, while fishing in the Naf River, three fishermen with one boat were seized. Earlier, on Tuesday evening, four fishermen with another boat were abducted from the same area by Arakan Army members.
The abducted fishermen are Md Abul Kalam, 50, Md Sadeq, 30, Abdur Shukur, 40, Md Robi Amal, 11, Manjur Alam, 27, Md Rasel, 18, Md Sharif, 12.
All of them are residents of Jalia Para and Dakshin Para villages of Shah Porir Dwip in Teknaf upazila.
Abdus Salam, a member of the Subrang Union Parishad, confirmed the matter to Times of Bangladesh. He said, “Around 3:30pm on Thursday, three fishermen with one boat were abducted while fishing in the river, and on Tuesday evening, four fishermen with another boat were taken away by Arakan Army members.”
He further added, “Because of the Arakan Army, it has become almost impossible to go fishing in the Naf River and the sea. They frequently abduct fishermen along with trawlers. If this continues, fishermen and boat owners will face dire hardship.”
Abdul Gani, president of Jalia Para Fishermen’s Association of Shah Porir Dwip, said, “Seven fishermen went to catch fish in the estuary of the Naf River with two engine-powered boats from our dock. At that time, Arakan Army members chased them with a speedboat and abducted them.”
He mentioned that the matter was immediately reported to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the local administration. Following the incident, a panic has spread among fishermen and boat owners in the area.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Inamul Hafiz Nadim confirmed the incident to Times of Bangladesh. He said, “The BGB and Coast Guard deployed at the border have been informed to bring back the fishermen, and the concerned departments are working on it.”
BGB sources said that on the night of 17 February, five fishermen were kidnapped by the armed group from the estuary of the Bay of Bengal near Shah Porir Dwip’s Naikhyangdia area. The next day, 18 February, a total of 73 fishermen were returned to Bangladesh with the help of BGB, including 66 Bangladeshis and seven Rohingyas.
Additionally, on 6 March, three Bangladeshi citizens abducted by the Arakan Army were handed over to the BGB through the Ghumdhum Friendship Bridge in Naikhangchhari upazila.
