After three days in captivity, 20 Bangladeshi fishermen and 15 boats seized by Myanmar’s separatist armed group, the Arakan Army, have been successfully brought back following efforts by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
The Arakan Army handed over the fishermen to BGB officials around 4pm on Thursday, according to a press release signed by Lt Col Md Mohiuddin Ahmed, Commander of Teknaf’s 2nd BGB Battalion.
The incident occurred on Tuesday when 20 Bangladeshi fishermen from Shapuree Dwip trawler ghat in Teknaf mistakenly crossed the maritime boundary into Myanmar waters at Naikongdia while fishing in the Bay of Bengal.
The Arakan Army detained them, accusing them of illegal entry, and seized their boats. After extensive communication between BGB and the Arakan Army, the detained fishermen were returned to Bangladeshi authorities.
The released fishermen include Shah Alam, 28, Asmat Ullah, 18, Abdus Shukkur, 32, Abul Hossen, 45, Ayub Khan, 48, Nur Hossen, 45, Md Belal, 29, Salim, 35, Abdul Kader, 25, Md Hashim, 35, Md Hossen, 28, Mohi Uddin, 26, Enayet Ullah, 30, Nur Hafez, 40, Md Yasin, 35, Abdu Rahim, 44, Hasan Ali, 53, Osman Gani, 30, Innamin, 27, and Abdu Shukkur, 46, from Teknaf, Maheshkhali, and Ukhiya.
Lt Col Md Mohiuddin Ahmed said that verification procedures are underway, and arrangements are being made to reunite the fishermen with their families.