A Bangladeshi fisherman was injured by gunfire from the Myanmar Navy while fishing in the Bay of Bengal near St Martin's Island on Wednesday. The injured man, Mohammad Ershad (age40) hails from the Golachipa area of St Martin's Island but is originally from Khagrachhari.
According to Md Syed Alam, a member of the St Martin's Union Parishad, six fishermen had ventured out to sea aboard a trawler owned by Ali Johar, a resident of the island. While fishing in the southeastern Bay of Bengal, they were pursued and fired upon by Myanmar Navy personnel, leaving Ershad wounded.
Nezam Uddin, one of the fishermen, confirmed that the Myanmar Navy opened fire from a ship while they were near St Martin's Island. Ershad was struck in his right arm during the attack.
Major Md Ishtiaq Murshed, acting commander of the Teknaf 2 Battalion of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), acknowledged the incident. He said the Myanmar Navy had mistakenly shot at the fishermen but later provided medical treatment to the injured man and returned him. "We are investigating the matter further," he added.
However, Teknaf Assistant Commissioner of Land Arif Ullah Nizami said he had no knowledge of the incident.
This is not the first case of such aggression. On October 11, a Bangladeshi fisherman was killed, and several others were injured in a similar shooting by the Myanmar Navy, which led to strong protests from Bangladesh at the time.

BOB Post