21 fishermen kidnapped from Naf River

Miscreants have abducted 21 fishermen boarded on three fishing trawlers, from Naf River in Merullya area near St. Martin's coast of Cox's Bazar.

Locals and trawler owners allege that Myanmar's armed rebel group Arakan Army (AA) is involved in the kidnapping incident.

They claim that the fishermen were taken hostage at gunpoint while they were returning to Teknaf on Wednesday (July 16) afternoon.

Teknaf Kayukkhali Boat Owners Association Director Sazed Ahmed said: "Three trawlers that were going to fish from our ghat have been captured along with 21 fishermen and boatmen. They were abducted on their way back near St. Martin's Island. This incident has caused extreme panic among fishermen and traders. Government cooperation is essential.’

Boat owners said that after the hostile weather passed, more than fifty trawlers went to sea from Kayukkhali Ghat on Monday to fish. On Wednesday afternoon, on their way back, three trawlers led by Ayub Majhi, Abdul Hamid Majhi and Nuru Majhi were chased by Arakan Army members in the Merullya area and they were captured at gunpoint. It is reported that the trawlers are currently anchored in the Merullya canal in Myanmar.

Fish trader Mohammad Alam said: "Despite such incidents, no permanent solution is found. As a result, fishermen are suffering from insecurity."

Two trawlers set off from Kayukkhali Ghat the day after the government ban on fishing in the Bay of Bengal ended on June 11 this year. On June 14, the two trawlers were seized by the Arakan Army near St. Martin’s Island. Since then, the fishermen of that ghat have stopped going to sea. Wednesday's incident brought back that fear.

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) said that in the last eight months, the Arakan Army has abducted at least 230 fishermen from the area adjacent to the Naf River on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. Of these, 151 were abducted from January to May this year. With the help of law enforcement agencies, about 200 people have already been rescued at different times.

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Ehsan Uddin said: "I have heard about the incident. Action is being taken in coordination with law enforcement agencies and the Coast Guard."