The recent abduction of 12 Bangladeshi fishermen from the Naf River marks yet another escalation in a troubling series of cross-border aggressions that demand a decisive and coordinated response from the Bangladeshi state. The incident, which occurred Saturday afternoon near Naikkhongdia in Teknaf, involved armed members of the Arakan Army taking control of a fishing trawler, FB Osman, and seizing all onboard as they returned from the Bay of Bengal.
The fishermen, residents of Shahporir Dwip, are the latest victims in a growing pattern of abductions. Since December last year, the Arakan Army has reportedly taken 223 Bangladeshi fishermen from the Naf River and the Bay of Bengal. While the Border Guard Bangladesh has recovered 189 of them along with 27 trawlers, dozens remain in custody, including seven taken in two separate incidents earlier this month.
Such actions are not isolated. They represent a consistent violation of Bangladesh’s sovereignty and an outright threat to the safety of its citizens. Abduction of civilians is not only illegal under international law, it is a direct assault on Bangladesh’s border security and a fundamental affront to the human rights of its people.
Bangladesh has a historical precedent for responding to such aggression. In 1666, the region that would become modern Bangladesh launched a decisive naval campaign against the Kingdom of Arakan, which had for decades operated a brutal system of piracy and slave-raiding along the Bengal coast. The campaign resulted in the liberation of Chittagong and significantly diminished Arakanese threats in the region.
Today, Bangladesh faces a similar challenge, not from a recognized state but from a militant group operating across the border. Nevertheless, the pattern is eerily familiar: the systematic targeting of Bengali civilians, the disruption of livelihoods, and the assertion of violent power across a sovereign boundary.
While diplomatic channels should remain open and efforts to resolve tensions peacefully must continue, it is clear that dialogue alone has not deterred repeated incursions. The security forces must be given the authority and resources to respond decisively to protect the lives of Bangladeshis operating in legally recognized waters.
Strong military preparedness and the strategic deployment of naval and border assets along the Naf River and Bay of Bengal are now essential. Without firm action, the pattern of abduction is likely to continue, emboldening armed actors who have already shown disregard for human life and international norms.
The abduction of civilians cannot be normalized. Bangladesh must act with unity, resolve and the backing of its institutions to ensure the safety of its citizens and the sovereignty of its borders. History has shown that decisive action can end such cycles of aggression. It may be time to act again.