Myanmar’s Navy has released 56 Bangladeshi fishermen along with their six fishing trawlers, who were detained in the Bay of Bengal near St. Martin’s Island. The fishermen were mistakenly caught in Myanmar’s waters while fishing.
On Thursday morning (March 6), Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Ashikur Rahman of the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) confirmed the release of the fishermen. The incident occurred on March 5 when the fishermen were fishing in the Bay of Bengal, south of St. Martin’s Island, near Bangladesh’s maritime boundary.
At around noon, six trawlers with 56 Bangladeshi fishermen unintentionally drifted into Myanmar’s maritime territory. The Myanmar Navy detained them, holding them for 15 hours. After the brief detention, the fishermen were released and arrived back in Bangladesh at the Shahpari Island Jetty in Teknaf on the morning of March 6.
Liberty News’ local correspondent states that the fishermen reported that while Myanmar’s Navy released them, they retained the catch of fish from the trawlers. According to the trawler owners, the fishermen were fishing in Bangladeshi waters when the trawlers accidentally crossed into Myanmar’s maritime boundary.
LND/BG
