10/17/2009

Cox’sbazar: Personnel of the Nasaka, Burma’s border security force on the western border, intruded into Bangladeshi territorial waters and abducted seven Bangladeshi fishermen for no rhyme or reason, a Bangladeshi official said.

“The armed Nasaka personnel intruded on the Bangladesh side of the Naff River in an engine boat on Thursday and kidnapped the Bangladeshi fishermen. The fishermen were taken away along with their boat by the Nasaka,” the official said.

The abducted are Md Alam (22) and Monir Ahmed (30) sons of Sona Ali of Pallan Para village, Abdur Razzaq, son of Abdul Hossain, Karim Ullah (25) son of Abdus Sukkur, Hamid Hossain (30) son of Abul Bashar, Hafez Ahmed (40) son of Noor Muhammad, and Nozim Ullah (22) son of Shamsul Alam of the same village.

However, four other fishermen in the boat managed to escape from Nasaka’s clutches by jumping into the water.

The four other fishermen were identified as Ismail (32), Jakaria (20) Noor Kabir (25) Kamal (25).

The Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) became aware of the incident when the four fishermen arrived on the shore after swimming for a few hours. They informed the BDR about the abduction.

According to an official report quoting the four fishermen, they were fishing in Bangladesh territorial waters on Thursday at around 11 pm. The Nasaka personnel came in an engine boat and kidnapped the fishermen at gunpoint.

Lieutenant Colonel Muzammel Hossain, commander of Teknaf 42 Rifles Battalion, confirmed the incident. He said that they came to know about it through an application submitted by the fishermen.

The BDR is now preparing to send an objection letter to the Nasaka regarding the abduction of Bangladeshi fishermen.

A trader form Teknaf said,” It is a crucial time for the two neighbours due to escalating border tension. So the Nasaka should avoid such activities. I think Nasaka is provoking Bangladesh.”