At least 30 Bangladeshi fishermen have been abducted by the Myanmar-based Arakan Army (AA) in the Bay of Bengal, along with five fishing trawlers, in the latest in a string of maritime kidnappings.
The incident took place around 5:00pm on Wednesday in the south-eastern waters off St Martin’s Island in Teknaf. According to local sources, three of the seized trawlers are owned by residents of Teknaf municipality, while the other two belong to fishermen from Shahpari Island.
Witnesses said the fishermen were working in the area when two speedboats carrying armed AA members approached. The rebels reportedly held the crews at gunpoint before taking control of the vessels and abducting those on board.
The Teknaf Boat Owners’ Association confirmed the details, and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Coast Guard, and local administration were immediately alerted. Coast Guard officials said they had received multiple reports and were gathering further information.
This is the latest in a series of similar incidents. Between 5 and 31 August, the Arakan Army abducted 81 fishermen along with 13 trawlers, with families still unaware of their fate. Since December last year, 325 Bangladeshi fishermen have been taken from the Naf River and Bay of Bengal. Of those, 189 fishermen and 27 vessels have been returned following negotiations led by the BGB.
The latest abduction underscores the growing threat to Bangladeshi fishing communities operating near the maritime border with Myanmar.
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