Jumbangla Desk: Myanmar's armed group Arakan Army has not returned the 20 fishermen who were taken at gunpoint while fishing in the Naf river estuary in the Bay of Bengal even after a day. Last Monday afternoon, 15 boats and nets were seized from Naikxyangdia area near Shahpari Island in Teknaf. The fishermen's families are in fear. However, the Border Guard Force of Bangladesh BGB said that they are trying to bring the fishermen back.

Teknaf-2 BGB captain Lt. Col. Mohiuddin Ahmed said that it will be possible to bring back those fishermen in one or two days. BGB has strongly protested in this incident.

Those fishermen are - Md. Hasim (30), Md. Hochen (20), Mohiuddin (22), Enayet Ullah (32), Abdul Shukkur (35), Nur Hafez (22), Md. Yachin (30), Abdur Rahim (24), Hasan Ali (33), Osman Gani (30), Shah Alam (22), Asmat Ullah (20), Abdul Sukkur (26), Abul Hossain (17), Ayub Khan ( 30), Nur Hossain (22), Md. Belal (18), Md. Salim (27), Abdul Kader (22) and Ibn Amin (35). All of them are residents of Shahpari Island Jaliapara.

Abdus Salam, a member of Shahpari Island UP, who owns a boat taken away by the Arakan Army, said the families are in a state of fear as the fishermen could not be brought back even after a day.

Kidnapped Ibn Amin's father, Nasir Uddin, said that his son was the only source of income for the family. I am very worried about him being caught. Earlier, our jailer was also shot dead by the Myanmar Navy.

Noor Alam, a local fisherman, said that fishermen have been captured by the Myanmar forces several times before. Because of this, the fishermen are very afraid.

Teknaf upazila executive officer Adnan Chowdhury said that fishermen are also at fault in this incident. Fishing in the Naf River has been suspended due to clashes between the Myanmar army and rebel groups. But the fishermen are ignoring it. Efforts are being made to make them aware of this.

Earlier on October 9, the Myanmar Navy abducted 58 fishermen including six trawlers who were going to fish in the deep sea. At that time, three fishermen were shot dead by their firing. One of them died on the spot. Later, however, the country returned those fishermen.