38 Muslims including children and women drown in Naf river

Naung Min Thu, Narinjara News, 13 June 2024

A military vessel crashed into a boat moving towards Bangladesh on the Naf river on 9 June. The boat finally sank and 38 Muslim passengers including children and women drowned in the river water, said local Muslim residents.

"The boat came from Bangladesh carrying machinery equipment to Myanmar. It paid money to the Myanmar navy for its journey to Maung Ni village under  Maungdaw township through  Naf river. On its return journey, the boat carried some Muslim families who were planning to visit  Bangladesh for medical purposes. The passenger was asked to pay  Bangladeshi Taka 6,000 by the navy personnel. The total amount was around Kyats 10 million. But the boatmen could not pay the amount that led to the collision,” said a local resident.

Only 7 individuals out of  45 boat passengers survived. Among the victims there was U Hu Song Char (38) from Aye Tar Li Yar village along with his 10-year-old son and 8-year-old daughter.

Five family members including Ko Arr Man (24) from ward number 5, U Saw Du La Vi’s 50-year-old wife along with their two young daughters, who lived in Myo Ma Ka Nyin Tan ward, were among the victims.

There were  15 displaced individuals from Shwe Zar, La Baw Zar and Maung Ni villages and also 9 Muslim prisoners, who escaped following the AA's capture of Buthidaung 3rd border guard police battalion recently.

Driven by four boatmen, the boat departed  from Maung Ni village and moved towards  Bangladesh.

Narinjara News tried to contact Arakan State military junta officials for confirmation about the incident, but failed.

Following the closure of Maungdaw general hospital by the military junta, local residents are currently facing difficulties in accessing medical care and many of them are compelled to visit Bangladesh for healthcare purposes.