Kaladan News

 

Dated: July 27, 2003

 

FISHING IS RISKY IN NAF RIVER NOW

 

Maungdaw, July 27: Fishing is risky in Naf River now as many fishermen were looted of their fishing nets, fishes, cash and other belongings. Yet the poor fishermen are going for trawling in the river with great fear for their livelihood, said a fisherman from Maungdaw town to our source. 

 

From last one week the attacks on the fishermen in the Naf River have increased manifold. The dacoits are looting whatever is found with the poor fishermen, he further added.

 

Earlier on 9th July a group of armed dacoits attacked several fishing boats trawling in the Naf River and beat up the fishermen and carried away their nets, cash and other fishing materials. It was taken place at a river point close to Minglagyi village, six miles north of Maungdaw town in Arakan state of Burma, said another fisherman to our source who was committed robbery.

 

 During the course of robbery, there was a hue and cry and when all other fishermen trawling in the vicinity were rushing to the spot in their boats from all directions the dacoits immediately left the place, he further said.

 

It may be mentioned that, there were reports of lootings of fishermen by Nasaka, Burmese border Security Force, in the guise of dacoits. This action of Nasaka was protested many times by Bangladeshi people and authorities, said a Bangladeshi fisherman on condition of anonymity.

 

The Naf is a river, which demarcates Burma and Bangladesh to which fishermen of both sides are daily going for catches. At present fishermen on the both sides of the river are fear-stricken, he further added.

 

The situation with the Rohingya fishermen is more serious since they have to fish under adverse conditions, with various restrictions, paying bribes and tolls to Nasaka, customs, military Intellegence and police, a leader of fishermen said to our correspondent.

 

Bangladeshi fishermen have requested the concerned authorities for their safety, a Bangladeshi fisherman told our source. ##

 

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