[🇧🇩-Land] Arakan Army----A rising security threat to Bangladesh

[Saif]

Arakan army halts trade at Teknaf land port, demands 'tax' on cross-border goods

Cross-border trade between Bangladesh and Myanmar through Teknaf Land Port has been suspended for over six weeks due to interference by Myanmar’s rebel group, the Arakan Army, which is reportedly demanding unauthorised taxes on goods being transported across the border. According to port aut

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Arakan army halts trade at Teknaf land port, demands 'tax' on cross-border goods

FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
May 28, 2025 23:41
Updated :
May 28, 2025 23:41

Cross-border trade between Bangladesh and Myanmar through Teknaf Land Port has been suspended for over six weeks due to interference by Myanmar’s rebel group, the Arakan Army, which is reportedly demanding unauthorised taxes on goods being transported across the border.

According to port authorities and traders, the Arakan Army began obstructing trade operations after taking control of parts of Myanmar’s Rakhine State from the ruling military junta. Several instances have been reported where cargo vessels en route to Teknaf were intercepted mid-river on the Naf River by Arakan Army forces.

As a result, both Bangladeshi importers and Myanmar exporters have suffered heavy financial losses. Goods worth crores of taka, including cement and potatoes meant for export to Myanmar, are lying idle in warehouses at the Teknaf port. Similarly, goods bound for Bangladesh are stuck on the Myanmar side, according to local media.

Ehtershamul Haque Bahadur, General Secretary of the Teknaf C&F Agents Association, said, “We are legally conducting import and export activities and paying taxes to the Myanmar government. Why should we pay taxes to a rebel group?” He added that the situation has been reported to the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), the District Commissioner, and relevant authorities.

Teknaf Land Port General Manager Jasim Uddin Chowdhury confirmed that trade has been suspended since 12 April, resulting in significant revenue losses for the government in addition to the commercial damage to traders.

UNO Sheikh Ehshan Uddin stated, “We have informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the situation. This issue requires a diplomatic resolution, and we are continuing to report all developments regarding the port.”

Port officials and traders await government intervention as the stalemate threatens to deepen the economic impact on both sides of the border.​

 

[Saif]

Teknaf fishermen in fear as Arakan Army obstructs deep-sea fishing

Myanmar’s rebel armed group, the Arakan Army, has been accused of obstructing Bangladeshi fishermen from operating in the Bay of Bengal - reportedly seizing boats and looting their catch. In response, most fishermen in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, have refrained from venturing into deep-sea waters for...

en.prothomalo.com

Teknaf fishermen in fear as Arakan Army obstructs deep-sea fishing

According to them, the Arakan Army arrived in a speedboat and seized the three boats at gunpoint. Each fishing boat had six to eight fishermen on board. Some of the fishermen were also beaten before all were later released along with their boats.

Gias UddinTeknaf
Published: 24 Jun 2025, 09: 09

Fishing trawlers anchored at Kayukkhali Ghat in Teknaf. This photo was taken on 21 June 2025 Prothom Alo

Myanmar’s rebel armed group, the Arakan Army, has been accused of obstructing Bangladeshi fishermen from operating in the Bay of Bengal - reportedly seizing boats and looting their catch. In response, most fishermen in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, have refrained from venturing into deep-sea waters for the past nine days.

Over 400 fishing boats remain idle as fishing activities come to a halt. This information has been confirmed by fishermen, boat owners, and local public representatives.

On 13 June, the Arakan Army allegedly intercepted three fishing boats from Teknaf at gunpoint near Naikhongdia, Myanmar, as the vessels were returning from deep-sea fishing.

According to the fishermen, Arakan Army members looted fish, fuel, and food from the boats before eventually releasing them. Several other trawlers were reportedly chased during the same incident.

Following this, fishermen have been reluctant to fish in the deep sea since 14 June.

However, some small boats have continued operating along the coastal waters near the Cox’s Bazar–Teknaf Marine Drive road. The number of such boats is estimated at around 5,000.

Sajid Ahmed, president of the Teknaf Kayukkhalia Fishing Trawler Owners’ Association, said, “The Arakan Army is obstructing entry into Bangladeshi waters for no valid reason. Trawlers are being looted. As a result, more than 400 fishing trawlers in Teknaf are unable to go to sea. We urge the government to take action.”

A visit on Sunday afternoon to Kayukkhalia Ghat and Shahporir Dwip Bazar Paraghat in Teknaf pourashava found rows of fishing boats anchored at the wharves. The usual bustle of fishermen was also missing. A few workers stood guard over the boats, while some fishermen were seen repairing nets.

At Kayukkhalia Ghat, two individuals - Habibur Rahman and Abdul Aziz - said that it is currently hilsa season in the sea, but they are unable to fish due to the Arakan Army’s interference. With the government’s 58-day fishing ban recently lifted, most fishermen in Teknaf are now facing financial hardship because of these disruptions.

Shahid Ullah and Abul Kamal, owners of two fishing boats, said that the sea will likely become rough in the coming days, making fishing riskier.

Despite the current favourable conditions, they are unable to resume fishing due to the Arakan Army’s activities, he insisted.

Abdul Jalil and Syed Alam, who are involved in the fish trade at Kayukkhalia Ghat, said that under normal conditions, 15 to 25 trucks of various fish species are sent daily to Dhaka and Chattogram from the ghat. With fishing suspended, they said, it is no longer possible to send any shipments.

Fishing trawlers anchored at Mistripara Ghat in Teknaf’s Shah Porir Dwip. This photo was taken on 21 June 2025 Prothom Alo

During a visit to the ghats of Bazarpara, Mistripara, Gholapara, and Dakkhinpara in Shah Porir Dwip, Teknaf on Sunday, more than 150 fishing boats were seen anchored. Local fishermen - Khalilur Rahman, Azam Ullah, Rahmat Ali, Bani Alam, and Abdul Hossain - said that to fish in the deep sea, they must cross Naikhongdia in Myanmar.

That is where members of the Arakan Army are reportedly harassing and looting Bangladeshi fishermen the most. Due to their inability to fish, every fisherman’s family is facing a financial crisis and struggling to make ends meet.

Leaders of the Boat Owners Association stated that two of the three boats taken by the Arakan Army on 13 June belonged to Nurul Islam, a resident of Teknaf. The third was owned by Mohammad Shawkat Alam.

According to them, the Arakan Army arrived in a speedboat and seized the three boats at gunpoint. Each fishing boat had six to eight fishermen on board. Some of the fishermen were also beaten before all were later released along with their boats.

There have been earlier incidents of abduction and obstruction involving fishermen. On 12 May, the Arakan Army reportedly abducted three Bangladeshis - Siddiq Hossain, 27, Rabiul Alam, 27, and Mahmud Hossain, 30, from the Naf River near Hnila in Teknaf, along with their boat. They were released two days later.

On 5 March, members of the Myanmar Navy reportedly abducted around 56 fishermen along with six trawlers while they were fishing off the coast of Saint Martin’s Island.

On 20 February, allegations were made that 19 Bangladeshi fishermen, along with four fishing boats, were abducted from the Naf River in Teknaf.

Abdul Mannan, a member of Ward No. 7 of Shah Porir Dwip in Sabrang Union, and Abdus Salam, a member of Ward No. 9, said that the plight of the fishermen would worsen if the government did not take steps to resolve the crisis.

They also noted that a shortage of fish has already hit the local markets as fishing remains suspended.

When contacted, Lt. Col. Ashikur Rahman, Commander of the Teknaf-2 BGB Battalion, told Prothom Alo that many such issues have been resolved through communication with the Arakan Army.

With the BGB’s efforts, a total of 189 fishermen have been brought back from Myanmar in several phases since last December, he added.

Does the future of Rakhine lie with the Arakan Army?

In one instance, 27 boats were returned and handed over to their owners. However, he said, no fishermen had reported the latest incident to the BGB, and an investigation would be initiated.

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Ehsan Uddin said he learned about the obstruction of Bangladeshi fishermen and the seizure of boats through the boat owners.

He added that members of the Coast Guard remain vigilant in the area to ensure fishermen do not cross the maritime boundary.​

 

[Saif]

After Myanmar military junta, now it's AA's turn

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Arakan Army (AA), a powerful ethnic resistance force fighting the Myanmar military junta in Rakhaine State of Myanmar, of unleashing severe repression on and control over the Rohingya population. In a statement issued on Monday last, the HRW, a New York

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

After Myanmar military junta, now it's AA's turn

SH Zahid
Published :
Aug 02, 2025 00:10
Updated :
Aug 02, 2025 00:10

The Human Rights Watch (HRW) has accused the Arakan Army (AA), a powerful ethnic resistance force fighting the Myanmar military junta in Rakhaine State of Myanmar, of unleashing severe repression on and control over the Rohingya population.

In a statement issued on Monday last, the HRW, a New York-based rights organisation, alleged that the AA has enforced severe restrictions on the movement of Rohingyas and resorted to looting of their property, detention and forcible enrolment in the army.

Another rights organization Fortify Rights in a statement, issued on July 23, not only echoed the accusations made by the HRW, but also alleged even far more brutal activities on the part of the AA members.

A new investigation carried out the by the Fortify Rights unearthed serious human rights violations such as abduction, torture, killings and beheadings of Rohingya civilians. It urged the International Criminal Court to investigate war crimes being committed by the AA against Rohingyas.

"The Arakan Army is responsible for widespread abductions, brutal torture and murder of Rohingyas, some of whom were found behaded, in blatant violation of laws of war", said Ejaj Min Khant, HR specialists at Fortify Rights.

From April to July 2025, Fortify Rights interviewed 39 Rohingya individuals, including eight women, who survived and witnessed AA abuses in 2024 and 2025. The organisation reportedly also viewed and analysed photographic and videographic evidences of AA crimes. The victims of AA atrocities elaborated during the interviews the extent of brutality of the AA members. The Fortify Rights itself also claimed to have documented how the AA mistreated and killed Rohingya civilians in ad-hoc detention centres in Rakhine State.

Fortify Rights reportedly sent a letter to the AA on July 14 last requesting a meeting to discuss the allegations made by a number of Rohingyas. "In response, the AA asked for more details about the incidents. On July 18 Fortify provided a three-page document containing testimonials and accounts of killings and torture of Rohingya civilians by the AA, and again requested a response." After two days the AA replied in writing' and categorically rejected the allegations describing those as false and defamatory.

The ill-fated Rohingyas until the emergence of the AA and their occupation of a large part of Rakhine State faced all sort of repressions, including murder, arson and eviction from their homes by the Myanmar Army. Now AA members who have been fighting the Myanmar Army for a separate homeland are carrying out identical brutality, as the world watches their plight from safe distance.​

 

[Saif]

BGB detains armed Arakan Army fighter seeking refuge in Ukhiya

Following the incident, intelligence surveillance and patrolling have been intensified in the border area

www.thedailystar.net

BGB detains armed Arakan Army fighter seeking refuge in Ukhiya
Following the incident, intelligence surveillance and patrolling have been intensified in the border area

Photo: Courtesy/BGB

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) today detained an armed member of the Arakan Army after he crossed into Bangladesh from Myanmar through Balukhali border in Ukhiya of Cox's Bazar.

The detainee, Jiban Tonchongya, 21, of Gorjbonia village in Naikhongchhari upazila of Bandarban district, identified himself as a member of the Arakan Army, said BGB, adding that he sought refuge.

Jiban entered Ukhiya through Balukhali border around 8:45am today, said Lt Col Mohammad Jasim Uddin, commanding officer of BGB 64 Battalion in Ukhiya.

He surrendered with an AK-47 rifle, 52 rounds of ammunition, and two magazines, the BGB officer said.

Quoting Jiban, Lt Col Jasim said around 300 members of the Arakan Army have fled from different camps in Myanmar. They may enter Bangladesh to surrender and seek refuge, he said.

Following the incident, intelligence surveillance and patrolling have been intensified in the battalion's designated border area, said the BGB CO.

Jasim said Jiban crossed the zero line from Myanmar's Rakhine state into Bangladesh with the weapon. He later surrendered the firearm to BGB members at a border outpost in Balukhali camp and sought shelter.

Jiban Tonchongya. Photo: Courtesy/BGB

BGB seized the weapon and took the Arakan Army member into custody. The higher authorities were immediately informed, and it was decided to hand him over to police for illegal entry.

"The detainee told us during interrogation that he fled to Bangladesh with the weapon due to personal security threats," Lt Col Jasim Uddin said.

The process of handing over Jiban to Ukhiya police is underway, the BGB officer added.

Hours before this incident, loud bursts of gunfire were heard from the Myanmar side in Ghumdhum border area in Bandarban's Naikhongchhari upazila on Sunday night.

Villagers living along the zero line in Ghumdhum said it was the first time in a long while that they had heard such gunfire, which began after 10:00pm and lasted for about two and a half minutes.

The shooting took place across the border, about 300 to 330 metres from the zero line near border pillars 34 and 35, according to Lt Col SM Khairul Alam, commanding officer of BGB 34 Battalion in Cox's Bazar.

"No bullets landed on the Bangladesh side; this was an internal incident in Myanmar," he said, adding that the BGB is on high alert and monitoring the situation closely.

Although there have been no reports of casualties, BGB has stepped up patrols in the area, he added.​

 

[Saif]

As per the video below, Bangladesh Army has chalked out a detail plan to tame Arakan Army. But Major General Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui, Director General of BGB, has declined to give detail about the plan. The number of troops in Arakan Army is merely 20000-30000 where as in Bangladesh Army it is close to 200000. The total strength of Bangladesh Armed Forces including Ansar and BGB is 8 million which is more than the total population of Arakan. If the Government of Bangladesh decides, Arakan could be conquered by the armed forces of Bangladesh in less than 72 hours.

 

[Saif]

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‘Arakan Army’ captures seven more Bangladeshi fishermen, two trawlers amid abduction spree

bdnews24.com

Published :
Apr 30, 2026 20:28
Updated :
Apr 30, 2026 20:28

Members of Myanmar's armed rebel group “Arakan Army” have allegedly picked up another seven Bangladeshi fishermen and seized two trawlers from the Naf River in Teknaf Upazila of Cox's Bazar in the latest reported abduction.

They were abducted while fishing at the estuary of the Naf River off Nayapara and Shah Porir Dwip on Thursday afternoon, said Subrang Union Council Member Abul Fayez.

Four of the fishermen are Nayapara residents: Abdur Rahman, Abdul Matlab, Gura Mia and Md Hasan.

The rest -- Ahmed Ali, Nurul Absar and Abdur Rahim -- are from Shah Porir Dwip.

It has become impossible to go fishing in the river because of the Arakan Army, Fayez said.

“Fishermen are also often being abducted from the sea,” he said, fearing bleak days ahead for the fishermen and vessel owners if the trend continues.

He demanded that the government intervene and take effective measures to stop the abductions.

Boat owner Abdu Shukkur said the four fishermen captured near Nayapara were on his trawler.

“They were abducted on the way back,” he said, demanding their safe return.

Lt Col Hanifur Rahman Bhuiyan, commander of Teknaf-2 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), said they are working to help rescue and bring back the abductees.

Trawler owners and the BGB say the Myanmar rebel group abducted 328 fishermen from the Naf River and the Bay of Bengal in the last 11 months.

Although the BGB managed to bring back 27 trawlers with 189 fishermen after several rounds of efforts, another 30 vessels and 190 Bangladeshis are still languishing in Rakhine State jails.​

 

[Saif]

Arakan Army continues to pick up fishermen from Bangladesh

Myanmar’s armed rebel group, the Arakan Army, continues to detain Bangladeshi and Rohingya fishermen from the Naf River and the Bay of Bengal, keeping them in custody in conflict-hit Myanmar.

www.newagebd.net

Arakan Army continues to pick up fishermen from Bangladesh
165 still in its custody, 234 brought back since Dec 24: BGB

Tanzil Rahaman 16 May, 2026, 01:15

Myanmar’s armed rebel group, the Arakan Army, continues to detain Bangladeshi and Rohingya fishermen from the Naf River and the Bay of Bengal, keeping them in custody in conflict-hit Myanmar.

The armed group detained the fishermen when they unknowingly entered Myanmar territory while fishing in the river or the Bay.

Category Number

Total fishermen still detained 165

Bangladeshis detained 81

Rohingyas detained 84

Fishermen returned by BGB 234

Bangladeshis returned 143

Rohingyas returned 91

At least 165 fishermen, including 81 Bangladeshis and 84 Rohingyas from camps for forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals at Ukhiya and Teknaf upazilas of Cox’s Bazar, who were detained between December 8, 2024, and May 12, 2026, are still in the custody of the Arakan Army, according to Border Guard Bangladesh data.

During the same period, the BGB brought back 234 fishermen, of them 143 were Bangladeshis and the rest 91 Rohingyas.

On the morning of March 28, members of the Arakan Army allegedly picked up 13 Bangladeshi fishermen from the Naf River near Shah Porir Dwip at Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar. All of them are residents of Sabrang union and reportedly entered Myanmar territory while fishing, according to BGB-2 Battalion in Teknaf.

According to the fishermen, although the BGB managed to bring back the detained fishermen, the Arakan Army has not returned their boats since the beginning of 2025.

They said that buying an old boat cost Tk 2 lakh to Tk 3 lakh, while a new one cost Tk 10 lakh to Tk 12 lakh.

‘The Arakan Army has detained 67 or 68 fishermen or more since August 2025. The fishermen departed from the ghat under my supervision,’ Teknaf municipality’s Kaukhali Boat Owners’ Association president Sazed Ahmed said on Tuesday.

He said that the Arakan Army had not returned 14 boats seized during the detention of the fishermen.

‘Since November or December 2024, the Arakan Army has been stopping returning boats. The fishermen were brought back through negotiations by the BGB and the government,’ Sazed said.

Abu Bakar of Palongkhali union at Ukhiya upazila said on Wednesday that his cousin, Lutfor Rahman, was among the five fishermen picked up by the Arakan Army on November 14, 2024.

‘He is still missing,’ Abu Bakar said.

‘My cousin has yet to return, and we are waiting for him. We do not know whether he is alive or dead,’ he added.

On May 9, the BGB brought back 14 fishermen, including one Rohingya, from the custody of the Arakan Army. The fishermen had been detained in the Bay of Bengal at different times in 2025 and 2026, BGB officials said.

On February 16, the Arakan Army handed over 73 fishermen whom it had detained from the Bay of Bengal at different times in 2025.

Many of the fishermen alleged that they were tortured, including forced to starve, in custody.

Myanmar and Bangladesh share a 271-kilometre border.

BGB officials said that the Arakan Army currently controlled almost the entire border area on the Myanmar side and that Myanmar’s Border Guard Police no longer had any presence there.

Bangladesh foreign ministry’s Myanmar Wing director general Md Toufiq-ur-Rahman said that there was no scope for maintaining diplomatic relations with the Arakan Army and that Bangladesh could not formally communicate with the group to seek the release of detained fishermen.Expat Community Forum

‘The Arakan Army’s detention centres are not even proper jails. We have some informal engagement. We are now in a dilemma as we have to allow fishing for livelihoods while also ensuring that fishermen do not get caught by the rebel group,’ he added.

He also said that it was not clear whether all the fishermen had actually crossed the border or whether some had been abducted from Bangladesh territory.

The fishermen urged the government to demarcate the maritime border with floating buoys so that they could avoid accidentally crossing into Myanmar waters.

BGB director general Major General Mohammad Ashrafuzzaman Siddiqui could not be reached for comment over the phone. He also did not respond to the question sent via WhatsApp until Thursday evening.

New Age had yet to receive the answers for its queries from BGB’s Ramu sector commander Colonel Mohiuddin Ahmed until Thursday evening, which he had asked the daily to send via WhatsApp.​