Date: Tuesday, July 13, 2004
Dominant of Naf River and Bay of Bengal by Nasaka and Pirates Makes Bangladeshi Fishermen fell Frightened
Teknaf, July 13: The Bangladeshi fishermen throughout the coastal belt of Cox’s Bazar district and the fishermen of the western bank of the Naf river fell frightened about the dominant of Bay of Bengal by Nasaka (Burmese-Border Security Force) and pirates, according to our correspondent.
From the Saint Martin Island, the southern side of Cox’s Bazar district to Kutub Dia (island), with a distance of 120 kilometers, there are about 30 fishing trawlers have been fishing in Bay of Bengal since long and earning their livelihood, according to a staff reporter of a local Bengali Newspaper named the Daily Ajker Desh Bidesh.
The fishermen of the Saint Martin, Dalkata, Matar Bari, Moish Khali, Kutub Dia, other coastal areas and other islands are facing difficulties in fishing in the Bay of Bengal for the cause of series of robbery of pirates, he more added.
On the other hand, the fishermen of the western bank of the Naf river of Cox’s Bazar district--- from Hoikong to Saint Martin Island--- are also in fears of Nasaka’s abducting while they are fishing in the Naf River and Bay of Bengal nearby Saint Martin Island, said a fisherman from Shafuri Dip.
The fishermen caught so many kinds of fishes such as Hilsa, Crustacean, Pomfret, and other kinds of fishes. By exporting fishes, Bangladesh earned crores of foreign currency in a year. They also caught some kinds of sea animals; from which poultry foods have been made and they fulfill our daily needs. So the fishermen are very important for us and it is necessary to give them protection from the government side, said Zahir Ahmed, a local trader of Cox’s Bazar.
During the torrential rain in this month, the activities of the Nasaka and the pirates have been increased.
On June 17, 2004, Nasaka arrested and detained six Bangladeshi fishermen while they were taking refuge at Marullah village of Maungdaw Township, after their fishing trawler was hit by tornado and capsized at the Bay of Bengal nearby Saint Martin Island and the crewmen reached ashore of the Arakan coast by swimming.
On July 1, 2004, two Bangladeshi fishermen from Lambar Bill of Teknaf were also abducted by Nasaka and detained their camp while they were fishing at the Naf River, said our correspondent.
On July 3, 2004, three passenger boats, which were plying between Bodarkhali and Matarbari were robbed and looted goods about worth Tk.100, 000/-by pirates, according to the newspaper report.
On July 4, 2004, the Nasaka arrested three Bangladeshi and detained at their Debonia Nasaka camp of Maungdaw Township while they were fleeing by a small boat crossing the Naf River to avoid the attack of some robbers when they were fencing a shrimp project at midnight, said a villager from Hoikong of Teknaf Union.
According to sources, over 100 Bangladeshi fishermen have been detained in Burma jail.
Besides the influential of Bay of Bengal by Nasaka and pirates, moreover Burma and Thai fishing trawlers are illegally fishing in Bangladesh water territory and taking away our valuable fishes and lessening our natural resources. Bangladeshi fishing nets are able to catch much lower than that of Thailand. Thai trawlers are well equipped and good in quality and able catch more fish than Bangladeshi nets, said a Bangladeshi fisherman from Cox’s Bazar. ##
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