The armed group Arakan Army has been accused of abducting six fishermen along with their trawler from the Bay of Bengal near Teknaf. The incident occurred on Tuesday morning near Cheradia, south of St. Martin’s Island, while the fishermen were returning from a deep-sea fishing expedition.
Sajed Ahmed, President of the Teknaf Municipality Kayukkhalia Ghat Trawler Owners Association, confirmed the incident. According to Sajed Ahmed, the fishermen were returning to Teknaf when a group of Arakan Army personnel intercepted them at the Cheradia point. They were reportedly held at gunpoint and taken to a canal in the Maungdaw Township of Myanmar’s Rakhine State.
As of 10:00 AM Wednesday, the whereabouts of the six fishermen remain unknown, sparking panic within the local fishing communities.
The fishing trawler belongs to Zakir Hossain, a resident of Teknaf. He stated that the crew, led by Abdul Karim, had set out for the sea on Saturday.
“They were returning yesterday with a large catch when members of the Arakan Army took the trawler away,” said Zakir Hossain. He claimed that one of the fishermen managed to inform him of the situation via mobile phone before contact was lost.
When contacted regarding the situation, Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Ehsan Uddin said, “We have received reports of another trawler and fishermen being taken. We are currently inquiring into the matter.”
Escalating Tensions at Sea The waters of the Naf River and the Bay of Bengal are vital for the livelihoods of the region, with over 800 trawlers from Teknaf Sadar, Jaliapara, Shahparirdwip, and St. Martin’s operating in the area. However, safety has become a major concern.
According to data from Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), the Arakan Army has abducted 347 Bangladeshi fishermen from various points in the Naf River and the Bay of Bengal since December of last year. While BGB efforts have successfully secured the return of 189 fishermen and 27 vessels in several phases, efforts are still underway to repatriate the remaining 158 fishermen and 21 trawlers.
Border sources indicate that following nearly 11 months of conflict, the Arakan Army took control of approximately 80 percent of the area, including Maungdaw Township, after ousting Myanmar junta forces on December 8, 2024. Despite the shift in control, conflict at the border persists. Due to the fear of gunfire and abductions, tourist ships on the Teknaf-St. Martin’s route have remained suspended for two years.
