Myanmar’s insurgent Arakan Army allegedly took 20 Bangladeshi fishermen hostage from the Naf River while they were fishing on Tuesday evening, said authorities. Moreover, 15 small wooden boats from the estuary of the river near Naikhongdia of Teknaf upazila were captured. Local Union Parishad (UP) member Abdus Salam confirmed the matter saying that the fishermen from Shahparir Island, who were fishing near Naikhongdia with about 15 boats, were taken hostage at gunpoint by the Arakan Army. All the fishermen are residents of Teknaf, he said, adding that they have already informed the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) about the matter. Lt. Col Mohiuddin Ahmed, commander of Teknaf-2 BGB, said they are in contact with Myanmar authorities to negotiate their release and are making efforts to bring them back. Earlier on October 9, Myanmar's Navy took away 58 fishermen from the Bangladesh side of the Bay of Bengal, near Saint Martin's Island. One fisherman was killed and two others were injured when Myanmar Navy opened fire on them. On the next day, Myanmar authorities returned the fishermen in two separate groups, along with the body of one of the deceased.

An ISPR release has sought to quell speculation and calm nerves around the situation prevailing at the Bangladesh-Myanmar maritime boundary adjacent to St Martin's island. The ISPR, or Inter Services Public Relations, is the public communications wing of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. It said in the context of ongoing internal conflicts in Myanmar, the Myanmar military is conducting joint operations against the Arakan Army in Rakhine State. Due to this conflict between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, there have been incidents of unwanted firing on Bangladeshi boats in the Naf River and the adjacent estuary area. BGB Chief orders heightened vigilance along Bangladesh-Myanmar border The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh expressed deep concern and protested the danger posed to Bangladeshi subjects on June 12, 2024. The ISPR release sent today said the Myanmar Navy is positioning near the maritime boundary of Myanmar and the Naf River, near St. Martin's Island, and firing artillery towards the positions of the Arakan Army. At the same time, the Arakan Army is also firing back at the Myanmar Navy. Currently, multiple warships of the Myanmar Navy are conducting these operations on the Myanmar border. The Myanmar Navy is also keeping the Bangladesh Navy informed about its presence in Myanmar’s maritime boundary near St. Martin’s Island. It is noteworthy that the internal conflict in Myanmar continues on the mainland and the adjacent coastal areas. Furthermore, near St. Martin's Island, multiple ships of the Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard are regularly patrolling from within Bangladesh’s maritime boundary, monitoring the movements of Myanmar’s ships. "As the ongoing internal conflict in Myanmar approaches near St. Martin's, there have been various rumors spread by interested parties on social media regarding the security of St. Martin's. Everyone is requested not to be misled by such rumors," the ISPR said. Read more: Need to find new partners to raise more int’l fund for Rohingyas: PM Hasina to IOM

Amid the ongoing conflicts along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, five Rohingya people including a woman with bullet injuries, entered Bangladesh through Shah Porir Dwip jetty in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar. The intruders came here from Myanmar crossing the Naf River and arrived at Shah Porir Dwip Jetty Ghat in Teknaf around 4 pm, said Abdus Salam, UP member of ward number 9 of Teknaf Sabarang Union. 330 officials handed over to Myanmar Later, "We informed BGB members and they reached the spot," he added. However, no statement was received from Teknaf Border Guard BGB in this regard. Unidentified man’s body found along Bangladesh-Myanmar border in Cox’s Bazar

Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) conducted a raid on the river Naf in Teknaf of Cox's Bazar district and seized 2.1 lakh contraband yaba pills early Monday.  Media officer of the BCG headquarters here Lt. Commander Abdur Rahman said that based on secret information, a special operation was conducted in the Naf river by BCG station Teknaf under BCG East Zone at around 2:15 am.  During the operation, the BCG members saw a locally made dinghy coming towards the Bangladesh water territory from the Myanmar frontier in the Naf River area of Sabrang Noapara.  Read more: BGB recover 70 thousand yaba worth Tk 2.1 core from Naf river As the boat crossed the border, the movement of the boat appeared suspicious and a Coast Guard member signaled the boat to stop. Realizing the presence of the Coast Guard, someone on the boat threw two yellow plastic bags into the water and quickly fled to the border of Myanmar. Later, Coast Guard members picked up the two sacks from the water and searched and seized 2 lakh 10 thousand pieces of yaba tablets, Lt. Commander Abdur Rahman said.   He further said that the seized Yaba consignment was handed over to Teknaf Model Police Station for further legal action. 

A suspected Yaba peddler was killed in a reported gunfight with members of Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) in the Naf River in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar district early Sunday. The identity of the deceased could not be known yet. A patrol team of BGB-2 noticed a boat with some people in the Naf River along the bordering area and challenged the boat early in the morning, said Commanding officer of BGB-2 Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Foysal Hasan. Read: Two youths killed in Keraniganj ‘gunfight’ At one stage, the criminals opened fire on the BGB men, forcing them to fire back that triggered  a gunfight. After a brief gunfight, the BGB men recovered a bullet-hit body of a man and recovered 3.40 lakh Yaba pills and a gun from the spot.