Myanmar’s armed group Arakan Army has abducted six Rohingya fishermen along with their trawler from the Naf River estuary in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar.
The incident took place Wednesday evening near the Nykhyongdia area of the Naf River border adjacent to Golar Char in Shahparir Island.
Those abducted have been identified as Md Ayas, Md Yasin, Ziaur Rahman, Ataur Hossain, Kefayet Ullah and Rashid Ullah. They are registered residents of different Rohingya camps in Teknaf.
Local fishermen said many Rohingyas have long been secretly leaving the camps to work as fishermen or labourers on the river. The six abducted men were also fishing under Bangladeshi trawler owners.
Sajed Ahmed, president of the Trawler Owners’ Association at Kayukkhalia Ghat under Teknaf Municipality, said, “The six Rohingya fishermen went fishing in a trawler owned by Abdul Matlub of Teknaf. While returning in the evening, their trawler’s engine broke down near Nykhyongdia Point. At that time, Arakan Army members arrived and took away the six men along with the trawler.”
He added that the area frequently sees activities by the Arakan Army, the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), Myanmar’s border guard force (BGP) and other armed groups, putting Bangladeshi fishermen at increasing risk.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Ehsan Uddin said, “We have learned about the abduction of six Rohingyas along with a trawler. We are investigating how they left the camps and went to the river. The matter has been reported to the concerned authorities.”
Earlier, on October 28, the Arakan Army detained seven Bangladeshi fishermen along with their trawler, accusing them of entering Myanmar’s waters. The day before, on October 27, four other fishermen were also abducted with their trawler from the Naf River.
According to sources, over the past eight months, the Arakan Army has abducted at least 317 fishermen from the Naf River and adjoining border areas. Around 200 of them were returned with the help of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) between March and August, while at least 117 remain missing.
