Members of the Myanmar’s Arakan Army have repeatedly crossed into Bangladesh, abducting fishermen and seizing trawlers from the Naf River and adjacent Bay of Bengal areas in Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf, sparking widespread fear among the local fishing community.
The latest incident occurred today (26 August) around 11am, when six fishermen were taken along with their trawler from the Shah Porir Dwip area of Naikhyangdia while returning from the sea, Abul Kalam, general secretary of the Kayukkhalia Ghat Trawler Owners’ Association in Teknaf, told TBS.
According to trawler owners and fishermen, at least 39 fishermen were abducted by the Arakan Army in the past four days alone. Since 5 August, a total of 46 fishermen have been taken along with seven trawlers and boats in just 21 days. None of them has yet been released.
The abductions have left more than 4,000 trawler owners and fishermen in Teknaf, who rely on the Naf River route for fishing in the Bay of Bengal, living in extreme anxiety. They have urged the authorities to strengthen Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Coast Guard patrols in the area.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Ehsan Uddin told TBS, “We have heard about the incidents. Arakan Army members are reportedly holding Bangladeshi fishermen at gunpoint and abducting them along with their trawlers while returning from the sea.”
Repeated attempts to contact the commander of Coast Guard Teknaf Station and the commanding officer of BGB Battalion-2 in Teknaf went unanswered.
Security analyst and researcher Major (retd) Emdadul Islam said the Arakan Army, after gaining control over parts of Rakhine State, has become isolated in Myanmar. This, he noted, has led to acute shortages of food and essentials in the region.
“The group is resorting to abductions and trawler looting on the Naf River as a means of extortion,” he explained. “Our border forces must adopt stricter and more strategic measures to curb these incidents.”
Migration and Rohingya affairs researcher Asif Munier stressed the need for diplomatic engagement.
“It is essential for Bangladesh to maintain communication with the Arakan Army to demand explanations and ensure that our fishermen are not abducted from the Naf River,” he said.
