Families of Bangladeshi fishermen and civil society groups have called for urgent government action to secure the release of more than 100 fishermen reportedly detained by India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and Myanmar’s Arakan Army.

The demand was made at a press conference held on Monday (September 22) at Meherba Plaza in Purana Paltan, Dhaka, jointly organised by the International Migrate Foundation and the Rail, Road, Communication and Environment Development Committee.

In a written statement read out at the event, poet and organiser Nahid Hasan said seven fishermen from Chilmari, Roumari, and Rajibpur in Kurigram district were detained by BSF on November 4 last year after inadvertently crossing into Indian waters while fishing in the Jinjiram River. 

They were handed over to Meghalaya’s Ampati police station and have yet to be released.

The organisers also highlighted a more recent incident on September 11 this year, when the Arakan Army allegedly abducted 40 fishermen along with five fishing trawlers from waters near Saint Martin’s Island. They noted that 81 other detained fishermen remain unaccounted for.

Speakers at the press conference accused the government, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and the Coast Guard of failing to take adequate steps to ensure the safety and release of the fishermen. “Fishermen are trapped on both the Indian and Myanmar sides. Despite their contribution to the economy, they are denied protection. For many of them, rivers and the sea are their only livelihood,” one speaker said.

The families of the detainees described living in extreme hardship and urged the government to escalate the matter to the International Court of Justice. 

They also appealed to the people of India and Myanmar to support the fishermen’s release on humanitarian grounds.

Relatives of the missing fishermen, including Bobita Begum, wife of Mir Jahaz Ali, Kajoli Begum, wife of Biplob Mia, and Monura, wife of Chan Mia, were present at the press conference.

SMS/