Two Bangladeshi Fishermen Escape from Arakan Army, Return Home Injured

Arakan Now, 26 April 2025

Two Bangladeshi fishermen, who were captured by the Arakan Army from the Naf River in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, have escaped and returned home with injuries.

The two fishermen are Badsha Alam, 45, son of Abdul Hakim, and Abul Kalam, 40, son of Rashid Ahmed. Both are residents of the Balukhali area near the Hoaikyong BGB checkpost in Teknaf.

The Arakan Army arrested the fishermen on Wednesday afternoon, April 23, while they were fishing in the Naf River near the Hoaikyong area.

They were captured while fishing in the Naf River near Bogar Dwip, about 3 kilometers southeast of the Whykong Border Pillar-18, after crossing into Myanmar waters.

After being held for one day, the two fishermen managed to escape from the Arakan Army’s custody and returned to Bangladesh on Thursday afternoon and night, April 24.

Mohammad Manik, the younger brother of Badsha Alam, said that the Arakan Army brutally tortured the two fishermen. Due to their critical condition, they received treatment at an NGO hospital in Ukhia before returning home, reported by Prothom Alo English, the English edition of a top Bangladeshi news outlet.