The Arakan Army, an armed group of Myanmar, is detaining fishermen as soon as they cross the border while fishing in the Bay of Bengal. The kidnapped fishermen and their families are living in extreme uncertainty.
The Arakan Army abducted 12 fishermen, both Rohingya and Bangladeshi, from the Naikshangdia area, at the mouth of the St. Martin and Naf rivers, at gunpoint on Wednesday and Thursday. According to the latest information, the Arakan Army has detained a total of 69 fishermen from August 5 to August 28, 2025. Of these, 43 are Rohingya and 26 are Bangladeshi.
According to BGB sources, the Arakan Army detained 124 Rohingya and Bangladeshi fishermen from the Naf River and the Naikyangdia estuary area of the Bay of Bengal from January to July 2025. However, thanks to the efforts of BGB's Teknaf Battalion-2, it was possible to bring everyone back later.
Locals of Shahparir Island said that the Arakan Army has captured Saber Hossain and Saiful Islam, two of the five fishermen from Jalia Para, as well as three others, including a father and son from the same family. This has cast a shadow of grief over the families of the fishermen. They allege that the Naf River was open during the junta government in Myanmar, but now the Arakan Army is engaging in banditry.
As per Coast Guard sources, they are on high alert along the Naf River border due to the ongoing unrest in Rakhine State, Myanmar. Regular patrols and surveillance are being carried out to prevent drug and arms smuggling, smuggling, infiltration, and violation of international waters.
Conscious circles believe that the Bangladesh government needs to take more initiatives to maintain normal trade with Myanmar and free the Naf River from the Arakan Army. If the administration's patrols are strengthened, fishermen will be protected from banditry.
"The armed conflict of the Arakan Army in Myanmar is their internal matter. However, the highest measures have been taken to secure the border. Necessary assistance is being taken after verifying the nationality of the detained fishermen," said Teknaf Battalion-2 BGB Commander Lieutenant Colonel Ashikur Rahman. He also said that the BGB has strengthened strict security measures to keep the border area safe.
"When a trawler owned by local resident Sultan Majhi approached Myanmar waters while fishing in the Bay of Bengal on the afternoon of August 23, two speedboats of the Arakan Army arrived and captured 12 fishermen. Even after six days, the Arakan Army has not released them," said Abdul Gafur, president of the Shahparir Island Jetty Boat Owners Association.
"No one has the right to detain fishermen unless they cross the Naf River boundary. Fishermen must be vigilant. Contact is already being made to bring back the detained fishermen," said Colonel Mohiuddin Ahmed, GB Sector Commander of Ramu, Cox's Bazar.
The Arakan Army captured the city of Maungdaw, Myanmar, on December 8, 2024. Since then, the 270-kilometer Bangladesh-Myanmar border has been completely under their control.
