BGB brings back 55 fishermen held by Arakan Army

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has brought back 55 fishermen who were detained by the Arakan Army at different times while fishing in the sea near Teknaf in Cox's Bazar.

They were returned this afternoon through the Teknaf-Myanmar Transit Jetty near Chowdhuripara in Teknaf Municipality.

However, the Arakan Army did not return the boats and fishing nets.

Lt Col Md Ashiqur Rahman, commander of Teknaf-2 BGB Battalion, said the fishermen had been detained in Myanmar by the Arakan Army while fishing at sea.

"After continuous efforts, BGB was able to bring them back on Wednesday," he said.

The fishermen are currently in BGB custody and their information is being collected before they are handed over to their families.

Abul Kalam, general secretary of the Kayukkhali Boat Owners Association in Teknaf, said six of the returned fishermen were crew members from his boats. He added that the Arakan Army did not return his boats or fishing nets, which he said were worth Tk 15 lakh.