TEKNAF, May 9, – Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has successfully brought back 14 fishermen who were abducted by Myanmar’s armed rebel group, the Arakan Army, while fishing in the Bay of Bengal. Among them are 13 Bangladeshi nationals and one Rohingya Muslim sheltered in a refugee camp.

Lt. Col. Md. Hanifur Rahman Bhuiyan, Commanding Officer of BGB Battalion-2 in Teknaf, confirmed the development. He said a BGB delegation received the fishermen from the Arakan Army at the zero line of the Naf River and brought them back to Teknaf jetty. The process of handing them over to their families is underway.

According to BGB, over the past two years several Bangladeshi fishermen inadvertently crossed into Myanmar waters while fishing, where they were detained by the Arakan Army and kept in camps under its control. Through sustained humanitarian efforts, coordination, and effective communication, BGB gradually secured the release of detainees.

The Cox’s Bazar region of BGB prioritized humanitarian considerations in negotiations, leading to significant progress in phased repatriations.

Lt. Col. Hanifur Rahman Bhuiyan said: “Alongside border security, BGB has always played a responsible role in safeguarding the lives and property of citizens. Through professionalism, sincerity, and effective coordination, we managed to bring back the abducted fishermen. Such humanitarian initiatives will continue in the future.”

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