AA abducts three BD fishermen from Naf River

Staff Reporter :

Myanmar’s armed rebel group, the Arakan Army (AA), abducted three Bangladeshi fishermen from the Naf River near the Leda border in Teknaf’s Hnila union around noon on Monday, according to local officials.

The abducted individuals—Siddiq Hossain (27), Rabiul Alam (27), and Mahmud Hossain (30)—are all residents of Lamarpura in East Leda. Witnesses said the fishermen were captured at gunpoint and taken toward Myanmar territory after the Arakan Army opened fire from across the river.

Nurul Huda, a member of the Hnila Union Parishad, confirmed the abduction and said the victims’ families are in deep distress.

“They were fishing in the Naf River when armed Arakan Army members approached from the Myanmar side, opened fire, and took the three men away along with their boat,” he stated.

Another local fisherman, Mahiuddin, who witnessed the incident, added: “The others nearby managed to flee, but these three were caught and taken.”

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Ehshan Uddin said, “We have heard the news of the abduction and are currently looking into the matter.”

The incident has sparked concern among locals about security along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, particularly amid escalating tensions in the region due to ongoing armed conflict in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.