At least 15 Bangladeshi fishermen were abducted Sunday evening near Saint Martin Island in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, by Myanmar’s rebel Arakan Army.
The group seized three trawlers at gunpoint while the fishermen were catching fish in the Seeta area. A fourth vessel managed to escape and reported the incident.
No official statement has yet come from Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) or the Coast Guard.
The Arakan Army has abducted 282 Bangladeshi fishermen since December, returning 189 following pressure from BGB. Still, 51 remain in captivity.
The frequency and scale of these abductions demand decisive military action. Bangladesh must act firmly to end this menace and restore its fishermen’s fundamental right to work safely in the Bay of Bengal.