The Arakan Army, an insurgent group from Myanmar’s Rakhine state, has reportedly abducted 20 fishermen from the Naf River in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. The incident occurred on Tuesday evening (November 5) in the Jaliapang River area.
The Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), Adnan Chowdhury, confirmed the matter to Cox’s Bazar Life.
“The Arakan Army has reportedly abducted 20 fishermen who were fishing in the Naf River. The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) is working to secure their release,” he said, noting that they have not yet confirmed the identities of the abducted fishermen.
Previously, on October 9, the Myanmar Navy had taken 58 fishermen along with six trawlers from the Bangladesh waters of the Bay of Bengal, near Saint Martin’s Island.
Gunfire during that incident resulted in the death of one fisherman and the injuries of two others. On October 10, the Myanmar Navy returned the fishermen in two batches, along with the bodies of the deceased.
By Abdur Rashid Manik
