Arakan Army abducts 9 Bangladeshi fishermen with two boats

Myanmar’s armed rebel group Arakan Army members have abducted nine Bangladeshi fishermen along with two fishing boats from the estuary of the Bay of Bengal and the Naf River near Teknaf.

The incident took place on Thursday as the fishermen were returning after fishing near the Naikhyangdia estuary off Shah Porir Dwip.

Abdul Gafur, president of the Shah Porir Dwip West Para boat jetty, confirmed.

The two boats belong to Rasheed and Md Faruk, residents of Dangor Para in Shah Porir Dwip.

Abdul Gafur said four fishing boats from his jetty were chased by Arakan Army members around 8:00 AM while returning from the estuary.

Two of the boats managed to escape, but the other two were seized along with nine fishermen on board. The incident has sparked fear and anxiety among local fishermen and trawler owners.

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Imam ul Hafiz Nadim said the administration has received reports of nine fishermen being taken away along with two boats and that the matter is being looked into.

According to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), at least 350 Bangladeshi fishermen have been abducted by the Arakan Army from the Naf River and adjacent border areas over the past 10 months.

With BGB’s assistance, around 200 fishermen have been brought back in phases, while about 150 fishermen remain in the group’s custody.

The repeated abductions have left many fishermen reluctant to venture into the sea for fear of being captured.