Arakan Army releases 3 BD ships

Staff Reporter :

The Arakan Army, a Rakhine-based armed rebel group, has released three cargo ships it had detained for four days while navigating through the Naf River.

The vessels, en route from Yangon, Myanmar, to Teknaf land port in Cox’s Bazar, were detained on Thursday and released on Monday morning. Syed Mohammad Anwar Hossain, the manager of United Land Port Limited, which operates Teknaf land port, confirmed the release.

“Two cargo ships departed from the Naf River boundary around 10:00 AM this morning, while the location of the third ship is still being monitored,” he said.

The ships were carrying approximately 50,000 sacks of goods, including dried fish, betel nuts, coffee, and other items worth an estimated Tk 30-40 crore. One of the released vessels has already reached Teknaf, while information is still being gathered about the remaining vessels.

The Arakan Army, known for its operations in Rakhine State, has previously disrupted trade routes along the Naf River.

The Teknaf land port, a critical trade hub between Myanmar and Bangladesh, continues to face challenges due to its proximity to conflict zones. Port operators have called for heightened security measures to ensure the smooth passage of vessels in the future.

The release of the cargo ships brings relief to traders and stakeholders concerned about the impact of the detention on the regional economy. However, the incident underscores the ongoing instability in Myanmar’s Rakhine State and its implications for cross-border trade.

The detention of the ships had paralyzed trading activities at the port, located on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

“This incident has left traders in a state of fear. Trade was already disrupted due to the conflict in Myanmar, but this situation requires government intervention; otherwise, traders may abandon Teknaf,” the port manager told the media.