Arakan Army detains 3 Bangladeshi fishermen from Naf River

The Arakan Army has detained three Bangladeshi fishermen along with their fishing boat from the Naf River near Teknaf on Saturday.

The fishermen were reportedly detained around noon near Naikhongdia, an area along the Myanmar border adjacent to Shah Porir Dwip, where the Naf River meets the Bay of Bengal.

The detained fishermen are Jasim Uddin, son of Leru Mia; Mohammad Ismail, son of Momtaz Mia; and Harun, son of Ayub. All are from Jalipara in Shah Porir Dwip under Sabrang Union of Teknaf.

Abdul Gani, president of the Shah Porir Dwip Jalipara boat landing committee, said the fishermen were catching fish near the mouth of the Naf River when members of the Arakan Army arrived in a speedboat and took them away along with their boat.

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer SM Anik Chowdhury confirmed that authorities had learned about the detention of the three fishermen from the area along the Myanmar border.

He said two other fishermen managed to escape and return to Bangladesh when the Arakan Army members detained the group.

Local fishermen said fishing in the Naf River and the Bay of Bengal has become increasingly risky due to the presence of the Arakan Army along the Myanmar border.