Arakan Army returns 26 fishermen

Twenty-six fishermen who were detained by the Arakan Army after crossing into Myanmar waters while fishing off the Teknaf coast have returned to Bangladesh.

They were repatriated around 3:15pm on Saturday through the mediation of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).

Lt Col Ashiqur Rahman, commanding officer of Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB), confirmed.

He said the fishermen had set out in groups from KK Khal and Shah Porir Dwip trawler ghat at different times to fish in the Bay of Bengal.

At one point, they mistakenly crossed the zero line of the Bangladesh-Myanmar border and entered Myanmar waters, where Arakan Army members detained them for illegal entry, he added.

"Following BGB intervention, the Teknaf Battalion established communication with the Arakan Army. After prolonged negotiations, the detained fishermen were brought back to Bangladesh on Saturday afternoon. At the same time, a fishing boat seized earlier by the Arakan Army was also returned. The process of handing over the fishermen to their families is currently underway," the official said.