A fisherman has reportedly been killed, and two others injured after the Myanmar Navy opened fire on a Bangladeshi fishing trawler near St Martin’s Island in the Bay of Bengal.
According to trawler owners, five fishing trawlers carrying 60 people were taken to Myanmar, but one has since returned with the deceased and the injured on board.
The incident took place on Wednesday afternoon in the Moulvir Shil estuary, southwest of St Martin’s Island. Trawler owners stated, "The Myanmar Navy opened fire," resulting in the death of Md Osman, who hailed from Shah Porir Dwip’s Konarpara area. He was a fisherman on a trawler owned by Saiful Company.
The names and identities of the injured fishermen, who also worked on the same trawler, have yet to be confirmed.
Saiful, the trawler owner, described the sequence of events, saying that the Myanmar Navy "suddenly gave chase and opened fire" on the vessels while they were fishing. Following the attack, the five trawlers and those onboard were taken back to Myanmar.
“A man shot during the incident died on one of the trawlers,” Saiful confirmed. The trawler returned to Shah Porir Dwip on Thursday afternoon after the Myanmar Navy released it.
The owners of the remaining four trawlers, identified as Matiur Rahman, Abdullah, his brother Ataullah, and Md Asem—all from Shah Porir Dwip—are currently out of communication with their vessels and crew.
When asked about the incident, Lt Col Md Mohiuddin Ahmed, captain of the BGB Teknaf-2 Battalion, stated that the matter should be discussed with the Coast Guard.
Md Adnan Chowdhury, executive officer of Teknaf Upazila, confirmed hearing reports of a trawler returning with a fisherman who had been killed by gunfire.
A Coast Guard official stationed at Shah Porir Dwip, speaking on condition of anonymity, also confirmed that "a man had died after being shot." The official noted that the vessel carrying the deceased and injured had returned to port with 11 people onboard.
The official added that reports suggest the remaining trawlers had been released as well, with further details of the incident expected later.
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