Arakan Army releases 4 Rohingyas held in Myanmar during alleged drug smuggling attempt

The Arakan Army (AA) has released four Rohingyas who were reportedly abducted in Myanmar after crossing the Naf River from Teknaf to bring in a consignment of drugs.

The four Rohingya men reached Hnila Jadimora Rohingya camp in Teknaf around 5pm today (2 May), said Khanjada Shahriar Bin Mannan, assistant at the Office of the Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner and in-charge of Jadimora camp.

The Rohingyas were identified as Arafat Ullah, 21, Anis Ullah, 22, Md Jaber, 14 and Anwar Sadek, 27. All of them are residents of Jadimora Rohingya Camp No-17 in Teknaf.

They were abducted from Laldia Char adjacent to Domdomia under Hnila union in Teknaf yesterday morning (1 May), according to sources.

Lt Col Md Ashikur Rahman, commander of Border Guard Bangladesh's (BGB) Teknaf-2 battalion, said, "The AA was forced to release the abductees after communication with the BGB. The Rohingyas have been kept under the custody of the Jadimora camp in-charge upon their return."

Mohammad Ali, acting chairman of Hnila union, said, "It is true that sometimes the AA abducts Bangladeshi fishermen while catching fish in the Naf River. But the four Rohingyas under discussion are not fishermen, rather they come and go to Myanmar to get drugs, mostly yaba tablets."

"The Laldia Char is part of Myanmar. Local fishermen do not go there to catch fish. Various sources have confirmed that the four Rohingyas went there to get drugs. Now they are lying strategically," the chairman added.

However, Mohammad Nur, leader of Jadimora Rohingya camp, said the four Rohingyas were abducted while catching fish and some other Rohingyas fled from the spot after the abduction.