Teknaf, Jan 21 (V7N) —One of three seized cargo vessels remains in the custody of the Arakan Army, raising concerns among traders in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar.
Two of the vessels returned to Teknaf land port from the Naf River's Naykhyongdiya area within the Bangladesh-Myanmar maritime boundary at around 10am on Monday.
By 6pm, the third vessel, carrying around 30,000 sacks of goods, was still held by the Arakan Army.
Previously, on Thursday, the Arakan Army intercepted three cargo vessels at the Naf River estuary while they were en route from Yangon to Teknaf land port.
These vessels carried over 50,000 sacks of goods, including dried fish, betel nuts and coffee.
The two returned vessels contained 27,722 sacks of goods, which are currently being processed for unloading at the port.
Syed Mohammad Anwar Hossain, manager of United Land Port Teknaf Ltd, said once the returned vessels were processed, the unloading of goods would commence.
Ehteshamul Haque Bahadur, general secretary of the Teknaf Land Port Clearing and Forwarding Agents Association, said if such incidents continued to happen, traders would cease operations in Teknaf.
The government's assistance was crucial for ensuring uninterrupted trade, he added.
Local traders highlighted that cargo shipments from Yangon to Teknaf resumed last week after a month and a half.
They said the Arakan Army had seized three cargo vessels under the pretext of inspections.
Nurul Kayes Saddam, an importer and owner of Kayes Enterprise, said the ongoing conflict in Rakhine had already disrupted their business, adding that such incidents only exacerbated the situation.
Meanwhile, Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sheikh Ehsan Uddin said two cargo vessels had been returned, and further inquiries were underway.
END/MSS/AJ
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