Arakan Army abducts 10 fishermen from Naf River

Myanmar's rebel group Arakan Army (AA) has abducted 10 Bangladeshi fishermen from Thaingkhali border area in Ukhiya upazila in Cox's Bazar while fishing in the Naf River.

The armed AA personnel captured them at 8:00am on Wednesday (May 1) from Naf River near Rahmat Bill in Thaingkhali area at Palangkhali union in Ukhiya upazila in Cox’s Bazar, said Palongkhali Union Parishad Chairman M Gafur Uddin Chowdhury.

He said over the phone that the fishermen were abducted while fishing in the Bangladesh part of Naf River.

Gafur Uddin said, “It is almost certain that the members of the Arakan Army abducted our fishermen, because there are no government forces in the Myanmar part of the Rahmat Bill border now. All the personnel of Border Guard Police (BGP), Myanmar’s border force, who were there fled to Bangladesh during the conflict. Now that area of Myanmar beyond Rahmat Bill is occupied by the Arakan Army.”

He claimed that he had received information from various sources that the Arakan Army had taken away the fishermen.

Ukhia Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Tanvir Hossain said that since they were abducted from the border area, the matter has been informed to the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) last night and the matter has already been informed to the higher level for their rescue.

Tanvir Hussain said that he also heard that it was Myanmar's separatist organization that did this, although he did not directly name the Arakan Army.

The abductees are Saiful Islam, son of deceased Jalal Ahmed, Abdur Rahman and Ayubul Islam, sons of deceased Ali Ahmed, Md Sohan, son of Taher, Jani Alam, son of deceased Sohab Hossain, Abdu Rahim, son of deceased Abdus Salam, and Anwar, son of Jalal Ahmed. All of them are residents of Ward No. 3 of Rahmat Bill area, said UP Chairman Gafur Uddin.
Tanvir Hussain said that he also heard that it was Myanmar's separatist organization that did this, although he did not directly name the Arakan Army.

The abductees are Saiful Islam, son of deceased Jalal Ahmed, Abdur Rahman and Ayubul Islam, sons of deceased Ali Ahmed, Md Sohan, son of Taher, Jani Alam, son of deceased Sohab Hossain, Abdu Rahim, son of deceased Abdus Salam, Anwar , son of Jalal Ahmed. All of them are residents of Ward No. 3 of Rahmat Bill area of Thaingkhali in Ukhiya, said local UP Chairman Gafur Uddin.

In addition to the fishermen from Rahmat Bill, there are three people from Putibuniya area of Ward No. 5 of Palangkhali union. They are Osman Gani, son of deceased Md Hossain, Abul Hasim son of deceased Aziz Salamm, and Md Osman of the same area.

Meanwhile, the families of the abductees have been worried since yesterday. The families of the abductees demand that the abductees be returned unharmed at any cost.
The statement of BGB has not yet been received in this regard.