BGB rescues 16 fishermen after six days in Arakan army custody
The fishermen, from Cox’s Bazar’s Fishery Ghat area, had been stranded after their trawler was attacked by pirates in the Bay of Bengal
The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) successfully brought back 16 fishermen from Myanmar's Arakan Army custody, six days after they were taken.
The fishermen, from Cox's Bazar's Fishery Ghat area, had been stranded after their trawler was attacked by pirates in the Bay of Bengal.
BGB officials communicated with the Arakan Army and facilitated the fishermen's return who arrived at Shah Porir Dwip jetty via Naf River yesterday (14 October).
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Lieutenant Colonel Md Mohiuddin Ahmed, commander of BGB's Teknaf Battalion 2, provided details about the rescue operation at a press conference today (15 October).
"On the morning of 28 September, 16 fishermen left from Nuniachhara Fishery Ghat in Cox's Bazar on a trawler to fish in the deep sea. On the evening of 5 October, three trawlers carrying an unknown group of pirates attacked the fishermen, beat them, and locked them inside the deck of their trawler. Later, on the morning of 7 October, the pirates released the fishermen on a remote shore within Myanmar's territory in the Bay of Bengal," he said.
The fishermen managed to contact the Arakan Army through local villagers and took shelter with the armed group. After six days in custody, the Arakan Army informed the BGB of the situation on Sunday (13 October).
"By Monday evening, we were able to bring back all 16 fishermen through the Shah Porir Dwip jetty on the Naf River," said Lt Col Mohiuddin.
BGB officials handed over the rescued fishermen to their families this afternoon, confirmed the battalion commander.
