By: Camp Correspondent
May 17, 2025
In a rare and notable development, the Arakan Army (AA) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) have exchanged seized fishing and cargo vessels along the Naf River, offering a brief moment of de-escalation amid growing tensions along the Myanmar-Bangladesh border.
According to sources familiar with the exchange, the Arakan Army returned 16 Bangladeshi fishing boatsthat had been held for allegedly entering Myanmar-controlled waters. In return, BGB released 8 cargo boats belonging to residents of Maungdaw Township that had been detained for about a month at Teknaf port.
The cargo vessels—some of which carried timber and other goods—had arrived at Teknaf from the Kanyin Chaung Economic Zone in Maungdaw on April 14, and were formally handed back on May 14.
“AA released the fishing boats in two stages—eight on May 15 and eight more on May 16. They also returned 26 fishing nets,” a local source told Rohingya Khobor.
The Maungdaw cargo boats had been seized by BGB shortly after docking, raising tensions between traders, local authorities, and security forces on both sides. Meanwhile, the AA’s coastal wing had seized 18 Bangladeshi fishing boats, 101 fishermen, and 126 nets between February and April for unauthorized entry into the Naf River’s disputed zones.
Among these, two boats and their crews were returned earlier in separate exchanges.
“This latest exchange was carried out peacefully. Both sides appeared to be following an unwritten understanding to reduce tension,” another source added.
While the situation along the Naf River remains fragile—especially with continued military buildup, refugee flows, and trade disruptions—this exchange is being viewed as a rare cooperative gesture in an increasingly volatile region.
Observers note that while the exchange does not signal formal diplomatic coordination, such informal understandings could play a critical role in preventing escalation and protecting the livelihoods of both Bangladeshi fishermen and Maungdaw-based traders.
