The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has successfully brought back 16 Bangladeshi fishermen who were held captive by Myanmar's Arakan Army while fishing in the Bay of Bengal.

According to Lt Col Mohammad Mohiuddin Ahmed, Commanding Officer of Teknaf’s BGB-2, the Arakan Army handed over the fishermen to Teknaf BGB at the neutral line of the Naf River late last night.

The fishermen, identified as Md Ismail (27), Abdul Hafeez (28), Azizur Rahman (45), Abu Hena (40), Mohammad Ali (40), Mohammad Arafat (30), Md Helal (28), Aman Ullah (50), Nabi Hussain (28), Md Salimullah (45), Md Yunus (52), Md Sagar (22), Md Salim (28), Dil Mohammad (27), Rahim Ullah (52), and Md Joynal (55), had set off from Nunyarchhara Fishery Ghat in Cox’s Bazar on September 28.

On the evening of October 5, unidentified miscreants and robbers attacked their trawler, assaulted the fishermen, and held them hostage inside the deck. Two days later, on October 7, armed assailants released the fishermen at a location within Myanmar’s part of the Bay of Bengal.

Following their release, the fishermen made contact with the Arakan Army through local Myanmar civilians and surrendered themselves to the group. The BGB was informed of the situation on October 13.

After successful negotiations, the Arakan Army handed over the fishermen to the BGB at the zero line of the Naf River. The rescued fishermen have since been reunited with their families.

BOB Post