The voice of the NAF River’s trick, which separates Bangladesh from Myanmar, echoes through the verges leading to Mohammad Siddiqui’s cap. The mountains of Rakhin state in Myanmar are visible right in front of their quarters in Bangladeshi border city of Teknaf.
Siddiqui earns his livelihood as a fisherman in the river. The 24 -year -old told DW, “I fish at around 7 pm and come back home at 1 pm.”
“I love it and earn between 500-600 taka ($ 4- $ 5) in a month, which helps me meet the needs of his family of eight people, including two children,” he said.
However, fishing in NAF has now become dangerous, with a rebellious group Arakan Army (AA) in Myanmar, working in the region. In May, a group of AA fighters kidnapped Siddiqui and two other fishermen.
“In the beginning of May, I went to the NAF River because I always had and I put my fishing net in water. I was with two other fishermen. Suddenly, we saw AA coming to us by their engine-operated boat, and they found about 20 bullets at us,” Hey.
Siddiqui said, “There was a person on his boat, who talked to me in our local language, Bengali placed a gun on my head, and asked me why we crossed their area. But we did not cross the border of Bangladesh.”
He said how AA handcuffs him, tied his feet, put him on his boat and took him to Rakhin kingdom, where he imprisoned him.
Siddiqui said, “During our imprisonment, some AA members used to get drunk on alcohol and beat us.”
After two days, the border guard Bangladesh helped save three fishermen after a call with AA, and they returned to Teknaf.
“The incident of this incident shook me. I suddenly got scared of fish. My wife cried a lot when I was kidnapped.
Dangerous stress on Myanmar border
AA has been fighting against the country’s army since 2015, one of the most powerful ethnic armed groups in Myanmar. While some temporary ceaasefires for human reasons such as earthquakes, the introduction in the fight is 2023.
Currently, AA Rakhin controls 14 of the 17 townships in the state, as well as a paletwa township in Neigoring Chin State. In December, AA captured the Mangdow Township in the state of Rakhin, which is a major military stronghold and region in Western Myanmar, bordering Bangladesh.
Myanmar’s army first controlled 270 km (170 mi) sea border under Myanmar and Bangladesh. But with the power to get AA in Mangdo, the border control fell into his hands.
Since then, reports of legs of Bangladeshi fishermen kidnapped by AA have become completely common. Around 15 were captured and later rescued in February, and another 56 was abducted and rescued in March.
“The incidents of Thassis are creating significant disappointment for both Dhaka and Arakan,” told the NGO to the NGO, Myanmar and Bangladesh Senior Advisor Thomas Keen told the NGO.
“From AA’s point of view, illegal fishermen are encroaching on their area with permission, and they think the problem is and the dhaka and the local auto -autoresies are not enough for the pre -east,” said.
Keen said that AA sees himself as a valid authority in these areas, and will argue that their functions are for law enforcement, not kidnapping.
“On the other hand, it is difficult for Dhaka that AA is a non-state actor, as it is to consider validity.”
DW approached AA to understand why they were kidnapping Bangladeshi fishermen, but no response was received at the time of publication.
After kidnapping fishermen in March, a government official from Bangladesh, SK Ahsan Uddin, Turkish news agency Anadolu said that Bangladeshi fishermen had sometimes warned for their safety to catch fish for fishing in the area of Myanmar.
‘AA is threatening our livelihood’
In May, a fisherman abducted by AA with Siddiqui, a cup of tea near Mohammad Hussain, said that some fishermen had worked to cross the Myanmar sea border as a result of the Bengol River to fish in Bangladesh.
He said, “Fishing is our livelihood, and since there is a restriction in a part of the river in the Bangladeshi region, some fishermen will cross the border. Karful,” he said.
In August 2017, at the height of the Rohingya crisis, the Bangladeshi government banned fishing in the NAF River to prevent drug trafficking and prevent Rohingya from entering the country on fishing boats.
Rohingya is mostly a Muslim ethnic minority located in the state of Rakhin, which was persecuted and motivated by the Myanmar army. Hundreds of thousands fled and live in crowded camps across the border in Bangladesh.
The interim government of Bangladesh lifted the ban in February, allowing Bangladesh to catch fishing under the local time.
Lifting the ban brought great relief to fishermen in the area, but the presence of AA across the Bangladesh’s maritime border with Myanmar panicked and scared them.
Hussain said, “I have a fisherman throughout my life and a good grip is a win that I cherish. But AA burnt on us and kidnapped us and now I was scared of fish.” “Every time we go fishing now, we recognize the sound of fuel-operated engine of their boat that patrols the border and we freeze,” Heer said.
22 -year -old Robiaul Hasan, who was 6 years old and was fishing since he was kidnapped by AA in May, share a similar fear.
“AA is threatening our livelihood for our own mistake, and our community does not feel. Village leaders have no money to cry to protect themselves, so our family should just pray for our chest on fishing. The government should help us,” he told DW.
Can Bangladesh Myanmar connect with rebels?
So far, Bangladesh Coast Guard and Border Guard officials have saved bees to save the bees kidnapped by AA.
DW reached Bangladesh’s Coast Guard to understand what safety measures they were taking to help fishermen, but no response was received at the time of publication.
Khandkar Tamid Rejwan, analyst of the Center for Alternatives for the Dhaka-based think tank, said that the ongoing kidnapping and harassment of fishermen by the non-state armed group like AA was highlighted by the lack of active measures from the interim government of Bangladesh.
“So Dhaka’s inability or reluctance suggests that practically attach to a stimulating foreign rebellious group, which appoints the zone war strategy to dissolve maritime borders, violates sovereign sovereignty and psychological fear,” he explained DW.
“This phenomenon can be acceptable BEE if it is isolated and extraordinary. Instead, thesis events occur regularly, along with AA in the last several months with arbitrary firing, torture and inhuman treatment of fishermen by AA,” said “Hey.
“AA is the real ruler of Rakhin and has become the new neighbor of Bangladesh. It has a war-spring soldiers, popular support, depth and strong alliances with major rebel groups in Myanmar,” Hey said that Dhaka should start an informal hatred understanding and engaging so that the safety of the people can be ensured.
According to local media reports, Bangladeshi officials started informal association with AA in December 2024. With stress, growing between the Dhaka and Myanmar army, the interim government of Bangladesh defended the engagement with AA and said that there was “need” in the country’s interest.
Razwan said that Dhaka should include a think tank, members of civil society and local administrative representatives to promote interaction with AA and create mutual understanding on across the border security issues.
Edited by: Wesley Rahan
