The cargo ships carrying goods from Yangon to the Teknaf land port have been detained at the mouth of the Naf River by the Arakan Army, a rebel group, while en route on Saturday.
These cargo ships are carrying 50,000 bags of dried fish, betel nuts, coffee, and other items.
As of 10:30pm on Friday, there was no information indicating that the detained cargo ships had been released.
On Thursday at noon, the Arakan Army detained three cargo ships, claiming they were conducting a search in the Naf River's waters near the Naikhong area on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.
The information was provided by Mohammad Jasim Uddin Chowdhury, the General Manager of United Land Port Limited, which operates the Teknaf land port.
He said: "The Arakan Army has still not released the cargo ships from Myanmar. They stopped the three ships in the mouth of the Naf River while they were on their way to Teknaf, citing a search."
It is known that, amid ongoing conflict with Myanmar’s government, the Arakan Army took control of the Maungdaw Township in Rakhine state on December 8.
They also took control of the 5th Border Battalion.
Since then, no cargo ships from Myanmar have arrived in Teknaf.
The most recent cargo ship from Yangon arrived on December 3.
Meanwhile, several traders at the Teknaf land port have reported that the port has been disrupted due to the ongoing conflict in Myanmar's Rakhine state.
They mentioned that, after more than a month, three cargo ships had started their journey from Yangon to Teknaf, but the Arakan Army detained them on Thursday at noon in the Naikhong area, claiming a search of the ships.
The detained cargo ships contain more than 50,000 bags of pickles, dried fish, betel nuts, and other items. Even after 24 hours, the ships have not been released.
Traders, including Shawkat Ali, Omar Faruk, Md Ayas, MA Hashem, and Md Omar Wahid, are among the importers affected by the detention.
A Teknaf land port official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: "Since the Arakan Army took control of the Maungdaw Township in Rakhine state, no cargo ships have arrived at the Teknaf land port. On Thursday, they detained three cargo ships on their way from Yangon. The ships are still under their control."
An importer at the land port, also speaking anonymously, said: "After about a month and a half, we imported goods from Yangon. These ships have been detained by the Arakan Army. They are still holding the three cargo ships, which contain 50,000 bags of pickles, dried fish, and betel nuts. There may be a conspiracy behind this event."
He further said: "Business at the port has been significantly affected in recent months, and the government is losing revenue. The government should engage in talks with Myanmar to find a solution to restart border trade. Otherwise, traders will turn away from the Teknaf port."
Ehteshamul Haque Bahadur, the General Secretary of the Teknaf Customs and Forwarding Agent Association, said: "Three cargo ships from Myanmar were on their way to Teknaf land port. On the way, the Arakan Army detained them in the middle of the Naf River, claiming a search. The ships have still not been released."
Lieutenant Colonel Ashikur Rahman, the commanding officer of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in Teknaf-2, said: "I have heard that a search was conducted on the cargo ships while they were in Myanmar's waters on their way to Teknaf. However, no one has informed us officially about this. Additionally, it falls outside our maritime boundary."
When asked, Sheikh Ehsan Uddin, the Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) of Teknaf, said: "I have heard about the detention of cargo ships coming from Myanmar's maritime boundary to Teknaf land port. However, no one from the port authority has informed me officially. I have informed the relevant authorities about the matter."
