Five fishermen abducted at gunpoint allegedly by Myanmar’s Arakan Army from the Naf River estuary in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, have remained missing for five days.
Family members said they had received information that the men were being held at a checkpoint in Rakhine State’s Maungdaw town, but no direct contact had been made.
The missing fishermen are Mohammad Elias, 41, his sons Md Nur Hossain, 18, and Akkal Ali, 20, as well as Saber Hossain, 22, son of Kalu Miah, and Md Saiful Islam, 25, son of Md Nur Hossain.
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All are residents of the Jaliapara area of Shah Porir Dwip in Teknaf upazila.
They were reportedly taken around 9am on Tuesday (12 August) while fishing in the Naikhongdia area.
Abdus Salam, a member of Sabrang Union Parishad, said the fishermen were taken at gunpoint by men arriving in a speedboat.
Abdul Goni, president of the Shah Porir Dwip Fishermen’s Samity, said, “Five fishermen, including three from the same family, went fishing in a boat owned by Elias. Five days have passed, but they have not been returned.”
A visit to Elias’s home in Jaliapara fishing village found his wife, Mabia Khatun, waiting anxiously at the door of their modest house made of polythene sheets and bamboo.
“We are poor people. If my husband and sons do not return, we will have to starve. The boat was also built with a loan. If we lose it, we will not be able to pay the instalments,” she said.
Local officials confirmed that steps were being taken.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sheikh Ehsan Uddin said the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Coast Guard were working on the matter.
Lt Col Ashikur Rahman, commander of the Teknaf-2 BGB Battalion, said efforts were being made to establish contact with the Arakan Army.
Teknaf Upazila Fisheries Officer Delwar Hossain said the issue had been reported to higher authorities.
Notably, such incidents have become frequent in recent months.
The Arakan Army and Myanmar Navy have reportedly taken fishermen from the Naf River and the Bay of Bengal on several occasions this year.
Local sources say instability in the border area increased after the Arakan Army gained control of large parts of Rakhine State in December last year.
According to sources, the Arakan Army has taken 211 Bangladeshi fishermen since December.
Of them, the BGB has managed to bring back 189 fishermen along with 27 trawlers and small boats.
