by Hafizur Rahman
Myanmar–Bangladesh Border Region | December 6, 2025
Communities living along the Myanmar and Bangladesh border say fear is rising again as more fishermen disappear or are detained by armed groups. In small coastal and riverfront villages, families begin each morning with uncertainty, unsure who may not return from the sea.
Four Rohingya Fishermen Missing After Reported Interception by Navy
In Sin Tet Maw village in Pauktaw Township, four Rohingya fishermen have not returned home since November 26. Residents said the men left before sunrise with their nets as they normally do but have not been seen since.
Villagers believe a Myanmar Navy patrol may have stopped their wooden boat somewhere off the Pauktaw coast. No official information has been released, and the families have received no message. One fisherman said the disappearance has created a deep sense of worry across the village.
For several days, rumours circulated that a large boat carrying hundreds of Rohingya had also been intercepted. Although this rumour later faded, residents said it added to the atmosphere of fear.
Families of the four missing men continue to wait outside their homes each evening for news.
Two Bangladeshi Fishermen Taken by Arakan Army in Naf River
Across the border in Bangladesh, fishermen in Teknaf reported a similar incident. On December 3, Arakan Army members detained two Bangladeshi fishermen near Hoai Kyang Jimong Khali in the Naf River.
Witnesses said several boats were casting nets when AA vessels approached. Most of the fishermen managed to flee, but two were unable to escape. They have been identified as Mohammad Solim, aged fifty, and Md Reza Uddin, aged eighteen.
A Rohingya resident living near the river said families suffer greatly when fishermen are detained, because most have no alternative source of income.
On November 19, twelve Bangladeshi fishermen were also taken near Saint Martin’s Island. Local estimates suggest that more than one hundred and eighty Bangladeshi fishermen remain in AA custody.
Six More Detained With Boats in Nat River
On the same day, December 3, AA coastal guards detained six more Bangladeshi fishermen with five boats in the Nat River. Local residents said fishermen often cross invisible river boundaries unintentionally, especially during shifting tides.
Border Communities Living With Uncertainty
From the coastal villages of Pauktaw to the river communities of Teknaf, residents said the sense of insecurity is growing. Many families depend entirely on fishing, yet the risk of detention has become a daily concern.
A fisherman in Teknaf said the river appears calm, but families no longer feel safe. He said each trip brings uncertainty about whether they will return.
Families on both sides of the border continue to wait for information about those taken. As days pass without news, the silence grows heavier and the uncertainty continues.
