Arakan Army abducted 12 Bangladeshi fishermen early Thursday, November 27, near St. Martin’s Island. The armed group also seized two fishing trawlers, according to local fishing leaders and government officials.

The men were taken around dawn from waters east of Cheradia, a small islet off St. Martin’s, after heading out to fish. The trawlers belong to St. Martin’s residents Mohammad Elias and Nur Mohammad.

Nur Mohammad said his vessel, carrying six fishermen under the command of Kabir Majhi, lost engine power on Wednesday and drifted overnight near Cheradia. “At dawn, Arakan Army fighters took them from the area,” he said.

Azim Uddin, president of the St. Martin Fishing Trawler Cooperative, said both trawlers and their crews were seized. “People here are terrified,” he said. “The Arakan Army has taken more than 150 fishermen from these waters over the years. Many are still being held, and their return is uncertain.”

Teknaf UNO Sk Ahsan Uddin said authorities have received reports of the abductions and alerted law enforcement agencies.

Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) officials say Arakan Army units have abducted at least 350 fishermen from the Naf River and nearby coastal waters over the past ten months. Roughly 200 have been returned in several batches, but about 150 remain in captivity. The ongoing “abductions” have left many fishermen afraid to venture into open waters.