14 Fishermen Abducted by Arakan Army Rescued and Returned to Bangladesh

Fourteen individuals, including thirteen Bangladeshi fishermen and one Rohingya individual, were rescued from the custody of the Arakan Army and returned to Bangladesh on May 9, 2026. These individuals had been abducted at various times starting from August 2025 while fishing in the Bay of Bengal near Saint Martin. The handover, facilitated by the BGB after lengthy negotiations, occurred at the zero line of the Naaf River in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar. While these 14 have been released, some others have historically been reported as remaining in captivity facing harsh conditions.