The Arakan Army, a separatist armed group in Myanmar, detained 20 Bangladeshi fishermen, but the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) successfully repatriated them.
On Thursday, November 7, around 4:00 p.m., the Arakan Army released the fishermen along the Naf River border, where BGB personnel received them.
Lieutenant Colonel Md. Mohiuddin Ahmed, commander of Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB), confirmed the development.
On November 5, around 4:00 p.m., the fishermen departed from Teknaf’s Shah Porir Dwip jetty in 15 hand-pulled boats and two engine-powered boats to fish in the Bay of Bengal. During the fishing expedition, they accidentally crossed the zero line of the Bangladesh-Myanmar maritime boundary, drifting into Myanmar’s waters. At that point, the Arakan Army apprehended the fishermen along with their boats, citing illegal entry.
BGB’s persistent efforts and effective communication with the Arakan Army resulted in the safe return of the 20 detained fishermen to Bangladesh.
BGB subsequently reunited the returned fishermen with their families.
Photo: Abdur Rashid Manik
