73 fishers return from Myanmar

News Desk :

The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has brought back 73 fishermen who had been held by the Arakan Army, Myanmar’s armed rebel group.

They were returned through the Jaliapara transit terminal in Teknaf around 4:30pm on Monday, said BGB Ramu Sector Commander Col Mohiuddin Ahmed.

Seven of those returned are Rohingya, while the rest are Bangladeshi nationals.
The BGB officer said the fishers had been detained at different times from the Naf River and the Bay of Bengal.
Their release was secured following a series of negotiations with the Arakan Army, reports bdnews24.com.
According to the group, the fishermen were held for crossing into Myanmar waters.

A BGB delegation travelled from the same terminal to the zero line of the Naf River earlier in the day, where the Arakan Army handed the fishers over.

They were then brought back to the Teknaf-Myanmar transit jetty.
The returnees were later handed over to their families through local representatives and the administration, Col Mohiuddin said.

Residents claim at least 200 fishers, along with their trawlers, are still being held by the rebel group.
The BGB said efforts are continuing to secure the release of the remaining fishermen.