Arakan Army abducts 13 Bangladeshi fishermen along Naf river

A Myanmar-based armed group, the Arakan Army, has reportedly abducted 13 Bangladeshi fishermen along with three boats from the Naf River near Shah Porir Dwip in Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf upazila on Saturday morning.

The incident took place around 7:00 AM in Naikhyangdia area while the fishermen were engaged in fishing.

The abducted fishermen have been identified as Md Mostafizur Rahman, Md Farid Hossain, Md Rabiul Hasan, Md Kalam, Md Hossain Ahammed, Md Mir Kashem Ali, Md Gias Uddin, Md Salauddin, Md Mohiuddin, Md Mola Kaloo Mia, Md Abu Taher, Md Abdul Khalek and Md Jaber Mia. All of them are residents of Majher Para and Dangar Para areas of Shah Porir Dwip.

Sabrang Union Parishad’s (UP) ward no 7 member Abdul Mannan said that Arakan army members approached the area in speedboats and chased the fishermen before detaining them at gunpoint along with their vessels.

He added that repeated interference by the group has made fishing in the Naf river and adjacent sea areas increasingly difficult, severely affecting the livelihoods of fishermen and boat owners and urged urgent government intervention.

Shah Porir Dwip West Para Fishermen’s Association president Abdul Gafur said that they learned about the incident from other fishermen who were out at dawn.

Following the abduction, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and local administration were informed. He also noted that fear and anxiety have spread among local fishermen and boat owners.

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Inamul Hafiz Nadim confirmed the incident and said that no formal complaints had yet been filed by the affected families.

He added that necessary steps would be taken in coordination with BGB and the Bangladesh Coast Guard to bring back the missing fishermen.

It is said that more than 400 Bangladeshi fishermen have reportedly been detained by the Arakan Army over the past one and a half years on allegations of border violations. Of them, over 250 fishermen and 27 boats have been returned through BGB efforts in multiple phases, while 172 fishermen and 32 boats are still believed to be held in Rakhine State prisons. The most recent repatriation took place on February 16, when 73 fishermen were returned.

SU/AM