Every year, Bangladeshi fishermen cross the Naf River hoping to return with a day’s catch. For many, that journey ends in detention. Over the past year alone, hundreds have been seized by Myanmar’s Arakan Army (AA), turning a livelihood into a legal and humanitarian crisis.
The Dacca spoke with a member of the Arakan Army and the family of a Bangladeshi fisherman currently held in an AA-run jail. Their identities are being withheld due to security concerns. Both accounts, from opposite sides of the border, point to a system where detention has become routine—and release depends largely on money.
According to Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), more than 400 Bangladeshi fishermen have been arrested in Myanmar waters this year. Through diplomatic channels and repeated communication, BGB has managed to secure the release of around 250 fishermen. More than 150, however, remain in detention. Families on the Bangladeshi side continue to wait, often with no information about where their relatives are being held or when they might return.
There is, however, a clear mismatch between the numbers cited by the BGB and those acknowledged by the Arakan Army. BGB officials say many detainees are released after paying bribes before being taken into AA camps. Since they never formally enter detention facilities, the Arakan Army does not count them as detainees, keeping their official figures significantly lower.
The Arakan Army justifies the arrests by citing security threats. AA argues that ARSA and RSO militants frequently disguise themselves as fishermen in the Naf River to launch surprise attacks on AA members and civilians. The group also claims these militants act as proxy forces for BGB and use fishing boats to smuggle essential goods into Arakan, prompting AA to detain anyone they deem suspicious.
For those taken inside AA camps, conditions are harsh. Detainees are brought before Arakan Army-run “courts,” where they are allowed local Rakhine-speaking representatives—not certified lawyers. Verdicts are widely reported to be financial. Fishermen are asked to pay between Tk 1–7 lakh for release. If they cannot pay the bribe, they are sent to a prison. Given the financial condition of the fishermen, most cannot afford to pay such a huge prize. Inside detention, fishermen are forced to pay Tk 2,000–5,000 per week for food. Those who cannot pay are left to starve.
Despite the growing crisis, government response remains limited. In November 2024, Khalilur Rahman was appointed the interim government’s representative on the Rohingya Crisis, and later also made National Security Advisor. Security analysts say the dual mandate has paralyzed action. While Rahman juggles portfolios, the Arakan Army operates with impunity, the BGB negotiates in vain, and families wait—desperate, helpless, and abandoned by the very government meant to protect them.