Arakan Army Abducts Four Fishermen from Inside Bangladesh’s Border

Cox’s Bazar Correspondent

Four Rohingya fishermen were abducted at gunpoint by the Arakan Army (AA), a Myanmar-based armed rebel group, from the Naf River near Teknaf’s Damdamiya area on May 1.

The abducted individuals, all residents near the Jadimura Rohingya Camp 27 in Teknaf, have been identified as Arafat Ullah (21), Anis Ullah (22), Mohammad Jaber (14), and Anwar Sadeq (27).

According to Mohammad Nur, a leader of the Jadimura Rohingya Camp, the fishermen were fishing on makeshift barrel rafts in the Naf River when AA members crossed the Myanmar border, held them at gunpoint, and took them along with their boat. Several others managed to escape and return to safety.

Confirming the incident, Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Ehsan Uddin said, “We have received reports about the abduction. The matter is being verified, and necessary steps will be taken.”

A local fisherman, Mohammad Alam, said, “Fishing in the Naf River always comes with fear. Arakan Army members often abduct fishermen, as happened today with four individuals.”

The Arakan Army’s activities near border areas are not new. Security analysts view such abductions as not only a humanitarian crisis but also a significant concern for Bangladesh’s national security. Experts have urged stronger border surveillance to ensure the safety of local residents.