Seventy-three fishermen who had been detained by the Arakan Army in Myanmar were repatriated to Bangladesh through the Teknaf border in Cox’s Bazar on Monday, February 16, 2026. Among them, 66 are Bangladeshi nationals and seven are residents of Rohingya camps. The handover took place at the zero line of the Naf River, followed by official reception at Teknaf Jetty Ghat. Local administration, union council representatives, and law enforcement agencies verified their identities before initiating the process of returning them to their families.

According to official sources, the fishermen had unintentionally crossed into Myanmar waters while fishing in the Bay of Bengal at various times in 2025, leading to their detention by the Arakan Army. They were held in different camps under the group’s control inside Myanmar. In response, security forces in the Cox’s Bazar region coordinated efforts on humanitarian grounds to secure their release through sustained communication and negotiation.

Lieutenant Colonel Md Hanifur Rahman Bhuiyan of the Teknaf Battalion (2 BGB) described the return before Ramadan as a positive humanitarian development and confirmed that efforts continue to bring back the remaining detained fishermen.