Arakan Army Captures Over 150 Bangladeshi Fishermen in 5 Months

Over 3,000 fishermen from Teknaf in Cox's Bazar have halted fishing in the Naf River and Bay of Bengal for nearly a week due to fears of abduction by the Arakan Army, a Myanmar insurgent group. In the last five months, the group has abducted over 150 Bangladeshi fishermen, increasing tensions in the region. This comes as a 58-day government fishing ban went into effect on April 15.

Fishermen and their families are facing significant hardship, as many have been forced to suspend their livelihoods. The Arakan Army has heightened its patrols in the Naf River, which forms part of the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, and has increasingly targeted fishermen with trawlers in recent months. On April 8, the group abducted 23 fishermen along with four trawlers from the Bangladesh maritime border near Saint Martin Island.

Since the Arakan Army took control of Maungdaw township in December 2024, the abductions have escalated, with 151 fishermen reported kidnapped. While Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has successfully rescued 134, efforts to recover the remaining fishermen continue. The abductions have raised concerns, as fishermen claim that the Arakan Army seeks to establish better relations with the Bangladeshi government.

Despite attempts at communication with the insurgent group, the abductions persist. Local officials and trawler owners have reported an increase in abductions, with the armed group using speedboats to target fishermen on the Bangladesh side of the border. The 58-day fishing ban is further exacerbating the situation, with over 10,000 fishermen struggling to support their families due to the halt in fishing activities. The situation remains dire for the fishing community in the region.