56 fishermen released after being reportedly detained, looted by Myanmar Navy
Myanmar Navy personnel reportedly released 56 Bangladeshi fishermen today (6 March) along with their six trawlers after detaining them while they were fishing in the Bay of Bengal near Saint Martin's Island in Teknaf.
However, before releasing them, the Myanmar Navy personnel allegedly looted fish, fuel, fishing nets, and food supplies from the trawlers.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Ehsan Uddin said the released fishermen have returned and are currently at Shah Porir Dwip Dakkhinpara Ghat.
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Lt Col Ashiqur Rahman, commander of the 2nd BGB Battalion in Teknaf, also confirmed that Myanmar authorities released the detained fishermen after they initiated contact.
Citing the trawler owners, Abdul Mannan, the Ward 7 member of Sabrang Union Parishad, said the Myanmar Navy seized the trawlers from the Bay of Bengal, around 10–15 kilometres south of Saint Martin's Island, yesterday afternoon (5 March). After that, there was no news of the detained fishermen.
Several fishermen who returned said while they were fishing, Myanmar Navy personnel suddenly chased them down, held them at gunpoint, and took them along with their six trawlers towards their vessel.
The fishermen were released at around 8:30am, approximately 10-15 kilometres south of Saint Martin's Island, within Myanmar's territorial waters, he said, adding that the six trawlers had anchored at Dakkhinpara Ghat by 11:30am.
However, the fishermen and trawler owners alleged that fish worth Tk10–12 lakh, including Rupchanda and Hilsa, along with fuel, nets, and food supplies, were taken away by the Myanmar Navy personnel, who also physically assaulted some of the fishermen, said Mannan.
Dakkhinpara Trawler Owners' Association President Bashir Ahmed said, "We learned about the incident from the other fishermen who returned from the sea. BGB and Coast Guard were immediately notified."
The Myanmar Navy personnel looted all fish, nets, fuel, and food supplies from the trawlers, he said.
