Arakan Army frees 12 Bangladeshi fishermen

Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh

Cox's Bazar, May 2 - The Arakan Army, a rebel group in Myanmar, has released 12 Bangladeshi fishermen who were abducted from the Thaiingkhali Rahmaterbazar border area in Ukhiya, Cox's Bazar, while fishing in the Naf River.

They were released after 7 pm on Thursday. Around 8 pm, a young man named Abdul Jalil from the Hoikyang Lambabil area of Teknaf upazila, who was among the abductees, confirmed the release of the 12 Bangladeshis.

He said, "The Arakan Army had taken us from the Bangladesh side of the Naf River. After confirming our identity as Bangladeshis by checking our national ID cards, they wanted to release us at noon. But considering the border situation, they later released us at 7 pm in an area called Balukhal on the Bangladesh side of the Naf River at the border. We are all fine."

On Wednesday morning around 8 am, they were taken from the Naf River on the Thaiingkhali Rahmaterbazar border in Palongkhali union of Ukhiya.

Confirming the release of the abductees, Palongkhali Union Parishad Chairman M Gofur Uddin Chowdhury said, "The fishermen were abducted while fishing in the Bangladesh side of the Naf River. They were released after 7 pm on Thursday."

The released fishermen are: Jane Alam (35), son of Hossain Ali of Rahmaterbazar Bil area of Palongkhali union; Abdur Rahim (40), son of deceased Abdus Salam; Anwarul Islam (37) and Saiful Islam (30), sons of deceased Jalal Ahmed; Ayubul Islam (30), son of deceased Ali Ahmed; Shah Alam (20), son of Abu Taher;

Abdur Rahim (52), son of Ali Ahmed of Gaujgona area; Osman Gani (30), son of deceased Mia Hossain of Putibania area; Osman (35), son of deceased Abul Sham; Abul Hashim (35), son of Ayub Islam; Abdul Jalil (32), son of Roman Ali of Hoikyang Lambabil area of Teknaf upazila; Hossain Ahmed (55) of Daingyakata area.

Ukhiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Tanvir Hossain said, "Since they were abducted from the border area, the matter has been informed to BGB."

Without directly mentioning the name of the Arakan Army, Tanvir Hossain said he has also heard that a separatist organisation in Myanmar was involved in the abduction of the fishermen.

No statement could be obtained from BGB in this regard. - UNB