Narinjara News, 13 October
2024
In return for protection money, Bangladeshi fishing boats
have been permitted to operate illegally in Myanmar's seas by Myanmar Navy
vessels that are patrolling the waters close to the country's border with
Bangladesh.
Navy vessels have crossed the mouth of the Naf River since
the Arakan Army (AA) began an operation against the junta's Done Paik and Chein
Khar Li border police stations in Rathedaung Township on November 13, 2023.
Local fishermen claim that in exchange for protection money,
these navy vessels have allowed Bangladeshi fishing boats to operate in
Myanmar's waterways.
According to a national of Myanmar who works as a broker on
St. Martin's Island in Teknaf Upazila, "Bangladeshi fishing boats used to
fish by giving the Myanmar Navy protection money. Every day, this protection
money is gathered. The conflict between a navy warship and Bangladeshi fishing
boats over the receipt of this protection money was the cause of the shooting
and arrests that day."
Usaman, 60, a resident of the Kona Para neighborhood on Shah
Pori Island in Teknaf Upazila, was killed on October 9 when the Myanmar Navy
opened fire on fishing vessels from Bangladesh. In addition to Usaman's boat
being taken, six other fishing vessels were also seized, totaling at least 58
arrests.
Locals have noticed that when navy warships obtain
protection money, Bangladeshi fishing boats are permitted to fish in Myanmar's
waterways.
“People on land are seeing Bangladeshi fishing boats enter
the waters close to the Myanmar navy vessels and harvest fish. They have a long
history of fishing in Myanmar's waterways. The Mayu lighthouse is currently
being approached by Bangladeshi fishing vessels, who continue to fish in
exchange for protection money," the resident said.
Furthermore, locals claim that the junta navy ships
positioned at the mouth of the Naf River frequently communicate with
Bangladeshi fishing boats, asking for food and clean drinking water.
Regarding the killing of a Bangladeshi fisherman in
Myanmar's waters on October 9, Bangladesh has protested to Myanmar.
In response to the Myanmar Navy's October 9, 2024, killing
of Usman, a 60-year-old Bangladeshi fisherman from the Kona Para region on Shah
Pori Island in Teknaf Upazila of Cox's Bazar, the Bangladeshi ministry of
foreign affairs today filed a protest with the government of Myanmar, according
to a press statement.
Bangladesh expresses profound concern over this tragic
incident, which is made worse by the kidnapping of roughly fifty-eight
Bangladeshi fishermen and six fishing boats, including Usman's boat, while they
were fishing close to St. Martin's Union in Teknaf Upazila, Bangladesh, in a
diplomatic note sent to the Myanmar embassy in Dhaka.
After speaking with the Myanmar Navy and the Bangladesh
Coast Guard, the fishermen and their boats were finally released yesterday in
two stages.
Bangladesh's government strongly advises Myanmar to act
right now to stop such unjustified acts from happening again. Additionally,
Bangladesh's territorial waters are fully respected, and Myanmar is urged to
refrain from any further provocations.