AA Abducts Rohingya Fishermen from Naf River

Naf River, Myanmar-Bangladesh Border – The Arakan Army (AA) has reportedly abducted 24 Rohingya fishermen from the Naf River while they were fishing near the Myanmar-Bangladesh border on February 14 at approximately 6:00 AM.

According to local sources, the AA’s coastal guard units intercepted the fishermen near Myanmar’s territory and forcibly took them away. Among the 24 abducted fishermen, six have been identified as:
• Mohammed Shofi, son of Abul Hasim (37)
• Sha Alom, son of Mohammad Shofi (20)
• Abdul Hafez, son of Sha Alom (25)
• Abdu Salam, son of Abdu Shukur (27)
• Solim Ullah, son of Rahamat Ullah (30)
• Mohammed Solim, son of Mohammed Rofik (28)

A source reported that the abducted fishermen are Rohingya refugees residing in various camps in Bangladesh. Many Rohingya, unable to access formal employment due to their stateless status, rely on fishing in the Naf River to support their families living in refugee camps.

Eyewitness Account, One of the fishermen who managed to escape recounted the terrifying ordeal:

“We were 30 fishermen, including some Bangladeshi nationals, fishing in the Naf River with four boats. As we were near Myanmar’s territory, the Arakan Army (AA) coastal guard units arrived in speedboats, opened fire, and seized three boats along with 24 Rohingya fishermen. They were taken toward an Arakan Army (AA) coastal outpost in northern Maungdaw.”

Another source confirmed that the abducted fishermen were from Rohingya Refugee Camp 14 (Hakim Para) in Ukhiya, Cox’s Bazar. They had left for fishing with four boats; however, three were captured while the fourth managed to escape with six fishermen on board.

Pattern of Abductions in the Naf River

This incident follows a similar event on February 11 at approximately 10:50 AM, when the Arakan Army (AA) abducted 10 Bangladeshi fishermen who were fishing near Ma Gyi Chaung Beach in the Naf River.

Families of the abducted Rohingya fishermen are deeply concerned, as there has been no communication or official statement from the Arakan Army (AA) regarding their whereabouts. Unlike the Bangladeshi fishermen, whose abduction was reported through AA-affiliated media channels, the fate of the Rohingya remains unknown.

Rohingya Vision News