RAMGATI, LAXMIPUR, Apr 2: A total of 16 Bangladeshi fishermen, including 10 from Ramgati Upazila of Laxmipur, have reportedly been detained by the Myanmar Coast Guard while they were fishing in deep water.
According to sources at Ramgati Police Station (PS), the fishermen set out for the Bay of Bengal on March 22 aboard a trawler named Ma-Babar Doa, departing via the Meghna River from Ramgati. Among those on board were nine fishermen from Ramgati, one from Kamalnagar, three from Subarnachar in Noakhali, one from Chattogram, one from Maheshkhali in Cox's Bazar, and one from Daulatkhan in Bhola.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ramgati PS Liton Dewan confirmed the incident.
Family members of the detained fishermen claim they were apprehended by Myanmar Coast Guard personnel in water near the Bangladesh-Myanmar maritime boundary adjacent to Teknaf and Ukhiya in Cox's Bazar. Ten days after the incident, there has been no trace of them, leaving their families in distress.
The detained fishermen include Md Jewel from Alexander Union; Md Nirab, Rakib Hossain, and Saddam Hossain from Char Poragacha Union; Md Liton from South Tumchar; Farhad Hossain from Sonali Village; Md Mezbha Uddin, Md Tahmid, and Md Tamjid from Char Abdullah Union; Tarek Rahman from Nayapara Village in Maheshkhali, Cox's Bazar; Md Kamal Hossain from Uttar Kattali in Pahartali, Chattogram; Md Saimum from Char Chhoto Lamchhi Dhali Village in Daulatkhan, Bhola; Md Shahjahan from Subarnachar, Noakhali; Jaber Hossain from Uttar Charbagha; Md Sohag from Char Pana Ullah; and Md Aji Ullah from Char Jagabandhu Village in Kamalnagar.
Md Shafiqul Rahman, In-charge of the Borkheri Naval Police outpost in Ramgati, said he has received reports of the detention of 16 fishermen, including nine from Ramgati and Kamalnagar.
OC Liton Dewan said the authorities are aware of the matter and discussions are ongoing with higher authorities to secure the fishermen's release.
Ramgati Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Nilufa Yasmin Nipa said efforts are underway to rescue the detained fishermen. Authorities have already contacted the Cox's Bazar District administration and other relevant offices, while discussions at higher levels of the government are continuing.
