While fishing in the Naf River estuary at Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar, 20 fishermen and 17 dinghie boats have reportedly been kidnapped and transported to Myanmar.
Members of the Arakan Army, an armed group from Myanmar, took the fishermen into custody on Tuesday, according to Abdus Salam, a member of the Subrang Union Parishad.
The fishermen in custody include residents of Shah Pari Dwip Jalia Para village in Sabrang Union, including Md Hashim, 30, Md Hossain, 20, Mohi Uddin, 22, Enayet Ullah, 32, Abdul Shukkur, 35, and 15 others.
Around 4:30 p.m., according to UP Member Salam, the fishermen departed to fish in 15 rowboats and two engine-driven boats close to the Bay of Bengal estuary and the Naf River.
“When Arakan Army members arrived in a large trawler and kidnapped 20 fishermen at gunpoint, two fishermen in each boat were using nets to catch fish,” he said.
Salam informed Adnan Chowdhury, the executive officer of Teknaf Upazila, or UNO, of the incident, who then informed the relevant authorities.
Lt Col Mohiuddin Ahmed, the commander of Teknaf-2 BGB, stated: “Locals and the fishermen’s families informed me about the situation.” We are discussing this issue with the authorities in Myanmar.”
On the morning of October 6, 58 fishermen and six fishing trawlers sailed out from the Shah Pari Island jetty before the Myanmar Navy captured them on October 9.
During that incident, a speedboat patrolling the Myanmar Navy opened fire on a Bangladeshi trawler, shooting three fishermen, one of whom died from his wounds. Later, the fishermen were brought back.
The BGB previously successfully repatriated 16 Bangladeshi fishermen who the Arakan Army had arrested after they entered Myanmar’s Rakhine state on October 15.
Explosions throughout the day have characterized the situation along the Naf River, reflecting a worsening crisis in Myanmar.
Reports of loud explosions coming from across the border have caused concern in Teknaf.
From Monday evening until Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., locals reported hearing these noises, which seemed to be the result of mortar shells or bombs dropped from aeroplanes.
The sounds of gunfire and mortar explosions have increased since Monday night, according to Mohammad Yasin, a resident of Jaliya Para in the Teknaf Municipality.
Children were terrified by the sounds, which were a little less audible during the day but more intense at night.
