The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has successfully repatriated 26 fishermen, including Rohingya individuals, who were detained by the Arakan Army while fishing in the Naf River and the Bay of Bengal near Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. The fishermen were brought back to Bangladesh on Saturday afternoon through the Jaliyapara jetty ghat in Teknaf Municipality.

Lieutenant Colonel Md. Ashikur Rahman, commanding officer of BGB Teknaf-2 Battalion, confirmed the development. Among the returnees, five are Bangladeshi nationals, while the remaining 21 are Rohingya residents of various camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf.

Lt. Col. Ashikur explained that the fishermen had been detained by the Arakan Army after inadvertently entering Myanmar’s territorial waters while fishing in the Naf River and the Bay of Bengal. The Arakan Army, which controls much of the Rakhine State border area, had held them captive for an extended period. The BGB maintained continuous communication with the group to secure their release.

After prolonged efforts, the Arakan Army agreed to release the 26 fishermen on Saturday. A BGB team set out for Maungdaw in the morning via trawler and successfully brought the fishermen back to Teknaf by 3:00 PM using a wooden trawler.

Upon their return, the fishermen were interviewed and their details verified at the Teknaf Transit Jetty. They reported that they had accidentally strayed into Myanmar’s waters while fishing, leading to their arrest by the Arakan Army.

The five Bangladeshi fishermen were reunited with their families, while the Rohingya individuals were handed over to the respective camp authorities, Lt. Col. Ashikur added.