Members of the Arakan Army, an armed group from Myanmar's Rakhine State, have abducted 13 Bangladeshi fishermen along with three fishing boats from the Naf River in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar.
The incident occurred on Saturday morning, March 28, in the Naikshangdia area of Shahparir Dwio in Sabrang Union, Teknaf Upazila.
The abducted fishermen are all residents of Majher Para and Dangar Para on Shahparir Dwip. They 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 Gias Uddin, Md Salauddin, 18, Md Mohiuddin, 22, Md Mala Kalu Mia, 55, Md Abu Taher, 40, Md Abdul Khalek, and Md Jaber Mia,24.
Hasan Ali, a fisherman leader from Shahparir Dwip, said that Arakan Army members captured the 13 fishermen and their three boats from the Naikshangdia area near the Naf River in the morning.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Inamul Hafiz Nadim confirmed that locals reported the abduction of the 13 fishermen from Shahparir Island by Arakan Army members.
He added that authorities are maintaining contact with the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and the Coast Guard regarding the matter.