Ban on vessels in Naf River lifted, Coast Guard to escort St Martin's-bound vessels
BGB has intensified patrolling on this side of the border
The Teknaf upazila administration lifted an indefinite ban on vessel operations in the Bangladesh section of the Naf River, including the waterway route from Teknaf to Saint Martin's Island, today (13 December).
"The ban was imposed due to the ongoing conflict in Myanmar. However, strict measures have been implemented to ensure no Bangladeshi vessel crosses into Myanmar's waters," Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Ehsan Uddin told The Business Standard.
"Simultaneously, passenger vessels on the Teknaf-Saint Martin's route will be escorted by Bangladesh Coast Guard as needed," he added.
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Major Syed Ishtiaq Murshid, acting commander of Border Guard Bangladesh's 2nd Battalion in Teknaf, said patrolling has been intensified in the Bangladeshi part of the Naf River.
On 8 December, the Arakan Army took full control of the town of Maungdaw in Myanmar's Rakhine State, bordering Bangladesh. Following this, the Arakan Army issued a statement imposing an indefinite ban on navigation in the Myanmar portion of the Naf River.
To ensure the safety of locals and tourists, the Teknaf upazila administration on 11 December imposed an indefinite ban on all vessel operations in the Bangladesh section of the river.
UNO Ehsan said despite the ban, special measures were taken yesterday (12 December) to deliver essential goods to Saint Martin's Island. As part of that, seven trawlers went to the island with security provided by the Coast Guard.
Meanwhile, locals on this side of the border have been hearing the sound of gunfights in Myanmar since last night.
Abdus Salam, a member of Ward no 9 of Teknaf's Subrang union, said no gunfight took place between Monday and yesterday evening. "But from last night till this afternoon, we could hear the sound of gunfire. However, it was not as loud as before."
Locals living in the Teknaf border area speculated that these gunfights were occurring in areas controlled by the Arakan Army where Myanmar's junta forces or their supported Rohingya groups are hiding.
