‘Arakan Army’ captures seven more Bangladeshi fishermen, two trawlers amid abduction spree

The fishermen are residents of Nayapara and Shah Porir Dwip in Teknaf Upazila

Members of Myanmar's armed rebel group “Arakan Army” have allegedly picked up another seven Bangladeshi fishermen and seized two trawlers from the Naf River in Teknaf Upazila of Cox's Bazar in the latest reported abduction.

They were abducted while fishing at the estuary of the Naf River off Nayapara and Shah Porir Dwip on Thursday afternoon, said Subrang Union Council Member Abul Fayez.

Four of the fishermen are Nayapara residents: Abdur Rahman, Abdul Matlab, Gura Mia and Md Hasan.

The rest -- Ahmed Ali, Nurul Absar and Abdur Rahim -- are from Shah Porir Dwip.

It has become impossible to go fishing in the river because of the Arakan Army, Fayez said.

“Fishermen are also often being abducted from the sea,” he said, fearing bleak days ahead for the fishermen and vessel owners if the trend continues.

He demanded that the government intervene and take effective measures to stop the abductions.

Boat owner Abdu Shukkur said the four fishermen captured near Nayapara were on his trawler.

“They were abducted on the way back,” he said, demanding their safe return.

Lt Col Hanifur Rahman Bhuiyan, commander of Teknaf-2 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), said they are working to help rescue and bring back the abductees.

Trawler owners and the BGB say the Myanmar rebel group abducted 328 fishermen from the Naf River and the Bay of Bengal in the last 11 months.

Although the BGB managed to bring back 27 trawlers with 189 fishermen after several rounds of efforts, another 30 vessels and 190 Bangladeshis are still languishing in Rakhine State jails.