Arakan Army abducts 18 Bangladeshi fishermen along with 3 trawlers

Armed members of Myanmar’s Arakan Army have abducted 18 Bangladeshi fishermen along with three fishing trawlers from the sea east of Saint Martin’s Island. The incident occurred late Sunday night (August 31) near the Sita area while the fishermen were engaged in their usual fishing activities.

The fishermen abducted include Jahangir Alam, Md. Alomgir, Abdur Rahim, Md. Alom, Md. Sabbir, Md. Taiyub, Abu Taher, Moni Ullah, Rahmat Ullah, Abu Bakkar Siddiq, Syed Ullah, Md. Rafiq, Abshar Majhi, Md. Taher, Abdul Motlab, Hafiz Ahmed, Aminur Rahman, and Sala Uddin — all residents of various villages on Saint Martin’s Island.

Foyezul Islam, Chairman of the Saint Martin’s Union Parishad, confirmed the incident, stating, “While fishing near the Sita area of Saint Martin’s, the Arakan Army abducted 18 fishermen and seized three trawlers. The incident has caused considerable anxiety among the local fishermen. Authorities have been informed.”

A local fisherman described the incident: “While fishing east of Saint Martin’s Island, a speedboat armed with weapons suddenly emerged from Myanmar’s waters and began chasing the fishermen. The Arakan Army members crossed into Bangladesh’s maritime boundary, pursued, and captured three boats carrying 18 fishermen.”

Trawler owners have appealed for immediate government and law enforcement intervention to ensure the safe return of the fishermen and vessels.

Sheikh Ehsan Uddin, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Teknaf, said, “We have received reports about the capture of three trawlers and fishermen near Saint Martin’s Island and are actively working on the matter.”

According to sources from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and trawler owners’ associations, the Arakan Army has abducted at least 318 fishermen from the Bangladesh-Myanmar border area near the Naf River over the past eight months. While 200 fishermen have been rescued and returned with BGB assistance, 118 remain in captivity, including 64 taken in recent days.