Shapuree Island, Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar
Armed militants of the Terrorist Arakan Army (AA) seized 13 Bangladeshi fishermen along with three fishing boats at gunpoint on Saturday morning. The abduction took place near the Naikkhyongdia area, adjacent to Gholarchar, off Shapuree Island in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar.
The fishermen left for the Naf River estuary at approximately 4:00 AM. They were peacefully casting their nets when Terrorist AA militants arrived in multiple speedboats at around 7:00 AM. Consequently, the terrorists surrounded the unarmed fishermen, trained weapons on them, and forcibly dragged all 13 men and their three boats away toward Myanmar.
The abducted men are: Md. Mostafizur Rahman (40), Md. Farid Hossain (30), Md. Rabiul Hasan (17), Md. Kalam (30), Md. Hossain Ahmed (38), Md. Mir Kashem Ali (40), Md. Giyas Uddin, Md. Salauddin (18), Md. Mohiuddin (22), Md. Mola Kalu Mia (55), Md. Abu Taher (40), Md. Abdul Khalek, and Md. Jaber Mia (24). All of them belong to Mazarpara and Dangarpara villages of Shapuree Island.
Ward Member Abdul Mannan of Sabrong Union Parishad confirmed the abduction. “The Arakan Army took away 13 fishermen along with 3 boats from Shapuree Island while they were fishing,” he stated. Moreover, he warned that fishing in the Naf River and sea has become nearly impossible because of Terrorist AA aggression. He urged the government to intervene immediately before entire fishing communities face economic ruin.
President of the Shapuree Island West Para Fishermen’s Association, Abdul Gafur, confirmed details from returning fishermen. He stated that BGB and local administration have been formally notified. Furthermore, he described widespread panic among boat owners and fishing families across the entire island.
Teknaf Upazila Executive Officer Mohammad Inamul Hafiz Nadim confirmed that law enforcement agencies are working to secure the release of the detained fishermen. However, no written complaint from the families had been received at the time of this report.
This incident is not an isolated attack. According to BGB and local fishermen’s association sources, the Terrorist Arakan Army (AA) has abducted more than 400 Bangladeshi fishermen over the past 18 months. Authorities have managed to secure the release of approximately 250 individuals. Moreover, on 16 February, 73 fishermen returned home after sustained BGB diplomatic efforts.
However, the crisis remains severe. Currently, 172 fishermen and 32 trawlers remain held captive in prisons inside Arakan their fates uncertain, their families shattered. The Terrorist AA continues to use civilian fishermen as leverage. Consequently, Bangladesh’s entire coastal fishing economy in the Teknaf corridor now operates under the shadow of armed terrorism.
The Terrorist Arakan Army (AA) has systematically terrorized Bangladeshi fishing communities. They deploy armed speedboats to hunt unarmed fishermen in open water. They abduct civilians without warning and imprison them inside Arakan. Moreover, they use these hostages as tools of coercion against Bangladesh. This is not a border dispute. This is state-sponsored hostage-taking by a narco-terrorist military organization.
The international community must recognize the Terrorist Arakan Army (AA) for what it is a terrorist group that abducts children, traffics civilians, and holds sovereign nationals hostage to expand its criminal empire across Arakan.
