Members of the Arakan Army (AA), an armed rebel group from Myanmar, have detained 13 Bangladeshi fishermen along with their two trawlers from the Bay of Bengal. The incident occurred on Wednesday morning near the southern coast of Saint Martin's Island.
The chairman of the Teknaf Pourashava Kaikkhali Ghat Boat Owners' Association, Sajed Ahmed, confirmed the event on Wednesday afternoon. He stated that the two trawlers, which had gone fishing from his ghat (dock), were chased and captured by AA members . While the owner of one trawler has been identified, the identity of the second trawler's owner is still being confirmed.
According to reports from the Myanmar-based news outlet Global Arakan Network, the fishermen were detained by the AA's coastal security unit while patrolling the sea. The AA claims the Bangladeshi trawlers had crossed into the territorial waters of Myanmar's Arakan State . The same source stated that the detained fishermen and their equipment have been handed over to the relevant authorities for legal action under Arakan law .
A trawler owner, Md. Syed Alam, described the increasing dangers in the Naf River and the sea, stating that one of the captured trawlers had a broken engine. He expressed grave concerns for the livelihoods of fishermen and trawler owners if such incidents continue unchecked.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Ehsan Uddin informed the media that they have learned about the incident from the trawler owners and are currently investigating the matter. The law enforcement agencies have also been notified . He also emphasized the importance of fishermen being cautious not to cross the maritime boundary .
This incident is part of a larger pattern. The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has reported that over the past 11 months, the Arakan Army has abducted at least 350 fishermen from the Naf River and adjacent coastal areas. While about 200 have been brought back with BGB's assistance in several phases, approximately 150 fishermen remain in their custody.
