Six Rohingya Fishermen Go Missing in Naf River After Fishing Trip Approved by Arakan Army

By: Camp Correspondent

Maungdaw Township, Arakan State | May 4, 2025

Six Rohingya fishermen from Mangala Gyi Village (1) in northern Maungdaw Township have gone missing in the Naf River after heading out on a fishing trip approved by the Arakan Army (AA), raising alarm and fear across the local community.

The fishermen, who had reportedly received official permission from the AA’s Mangala Gyi creek outpost, departed at around 6 PM on April 30 to fish in the Naf River, a lifeline for many Rohingya families. According to village residents, such night fishing trips are common, and fishermen usually return home by dawn.

As part of the AA’s control over movement and livelihoods, local fishermen are required to share half of their catch with the outpost in exchange for permission to fish.

No Return, No Trace

When the fishermen failed to return by the afternoon of May 1, their families grew increasingly concerned. Villagers launched a search operation along the river and surrounding forests, but no trace of the men was found.

On May 2, family members approached the AA’s creek outpost to report the disappearance. The AA reportedly permitted search beyond the border fence, including within the Naf River areas. However, after hours of searching, the only discovery was the group’s fishing boat and gear, which was found abandoned near the AA outpost close to Ywark Nyo Taung village.

There was no sign of the fishermen themselves.

Identities of the Missing

The missing fishermen have been identified as:

1. Anawtu Rahman (aka Zawkir), 28
2. Robialom (aka Zawhir Ahmad), 17
3. Arman (aka Malwi Kasim), 26
4. Intayas (aka Foyas), 50
5. Two other men (names still unconfirmed)

All six are residents of Mangala Gyi Village (1), Maungdaw Township.

Anxious Families, Growing Distrust

With no word from the AA or any other authority, fear and speculation are growing among local Rohingya. Some villagers fear the men may have met with foul play or been caught in a conflict zone. Others express concern that even with prior approval from AA authorities, Rohingya lives remain insecure and expendable.

“They went fishing with permission and still disappeared,” said a relative of one of the missing men. “We don’t know whom to trust anymore. No one is protecting us—not the state, not the groups in control.”

The families are continuing their search, holding on to hope, while appealing to local authorities, humanitarian groups, and international observers to intervene and investigate the disappearance.

Ongoing Climate of Fear

This incident comes amid rising reports of extortion, forced labor, arbitrary detentions, and disappearances under Arakan Army rule in northern Maungdaw. As the conflict continues and Rohingya civilians are forced to navigate between power players, community members warn that trust is breaking down—and fear is replacing what little sense of normalcy remained.