TEKNAF, Bangladesh: Five fishermen aboard a Bangladeshi fishing trawler were allegedly detained by Myanmar's Arakan Army while fishing in the Bay of Bengal off the Teknaf coast on Sunday, sending a wave of fear through local fishing communities who depend on those same waters for their livelihoods.
The detained fishermen were identified as trawler skipper Salam Nur, 31, along with Md Ayub, 37, Md Azizullah, 30, Sayed Hossain, 25, and another Md Ayub, 24. Preliminary information from local authorities indicates that all five are residents of Rohingya refugee camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf.
According to local fishermen, the trawler, owned by Ali Ahmad of Ali'r Dail village in Sabrang Union, left Kayukhali Ghat on Sunday morning for a routine fishing trip. When the vessel reached waters near Chera Dwip, members of the Arakan Army allegedly chased and intercepted it before taking both the trawler and its five crew members away. Several nearby fishing trawlers managed to flee the area and return to shore safely, fishermen said.
Abul Kalam, General Secretary of the Kayukhali Ghat Fishing Boat Owners' Association under Teknaf Municipality, confirmed the incident and said the detentions had triggered serious anxiety among the local fishing community. Fishermen in the area have long operated in those coastal waters, and incidents involving armed groups from across the border have made an already difficult livelihood even more precarious.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer S M Anik Chowdhury confirmed that the administration had received reports of the detention.
"Preliminary information indicates that all five are residents of Rohingya refugee camps. We are verifying the information and maintaining communication with the relevant authorities," he said.
The Arakan Army's Account
The Arakan Army issued a statement presenting a different version of events. According to the group, its Coast Guard Security Force detained the five fishermen after they allegedly entered Arakan's territorial waters and engaged in what the AA described as illegal fishing.
The statement said Coast Guard personnel spotted a "suspicious motorised fishing boat" operating in waters between Kyauk Pandu and Gyin Taw villages in Maungdaw Township on the afternoon of June 28. The Arakan Army alleged that the vessel attempted to flee after being signalled to stop for inspection. The group said its Coast Guard pursued the trawler and seized it at approximately 1:40 PM, around 2.7 kilometres southwest of the mouth of Gyin Taw Creek.
