On November 5th of the past year, 60 fishing boats from Bangladesh, which were engaged in illegal fishing within the territorial waters of Arakan, were seized by the Arakan Coast Guard.
The report states that among the 60 fishing boats, 15 were fishing boats, 2 were motorized boats, and 13 were non-motorized boats. Along with these 60 boats, 20 water workers were involved.
Twenty fishermen were detained by the Arakan Army for two days, during which they were questioned about their activities. After the interrogation, the fishermen were reportedly given an assurance that they would not be captured for fishing in the future, and on November 7, they were safely handed over to the Bangladesh Border Guard Police (BGP) at the border.”
Those who have been caught engaging in illegal fishing within the Arakan water territory are fishermen who depend on fishing for their livelihood and are from impoverished backgrounds. The repeated incidents of illegal fishing highlight the severe hardships faced by their families in Bangladesh, struggling for basic survival needs. It is stated that these fishermen were released after their circumstances were acknowledged with empathy and understanding.”
Furthermore, it is also stated that, in order to strengthen cooperation between the Bangladesh government and their organization on border-related issues, the decision to release the illegal fishermen without any punishment was made with the long-term goal of fostering better collaboration in the future. The fishermen were returned without facing any penalties for their illegal activities.
On November 20, the Arakan Army handed over 20 fishing boats, including 2 motorized boats, 13 non-motorized boats, and 7 large fishing boats, to the Bangladesh Border Guard Police (BGP). The remaining 8 fishing boats will be returned to the BGP once security assurances are in place, according to the Arakan Army.”
The delay in returning the fishing boats was also attributed to the ongoing military tensions in the Maungdaw region, as well as the need to take precautions against potential airstrike threats from the military council while transporting the boats back to the designated handover location.
Furthermore, the Arakan Army has warned that anyone who attempts to illegally enter and engage in fishing within the Arakan water territory in the future will be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
