The Myanmar Navy opened fire on six Bangladeshi fishing trawlers off the coast of Saint Martin’s Island in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, around 3pm on Thursday.
The attack left one fisherman, Osman, dead.
Osman, the son of Bacha Mia from Konarpara village in the Shahpari Island area of Teknaf upazila, was among the crew on the trawler.
Saiful, the owner of the trawler, said his vessel was fishing in the sea when the Myanmar Navy suddenly chased them and opened fire. Four people on board were shot, with Osman succumbing to his injuries.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Adnan Chowdhury confirmed that the Myanmar Navy targeted six Bangladeshi trawlers near the water border between Teknaf, Saint Martin’s, and Myanmar. The trawlers had 50-60 fishermen on board. One fisherman was killed, and 11 members of the Coast Guard were later returned along with a trawler carrying the deceased fisherman. However, five other trawlers and the remaining fishermen have not yet been returned.
Lt Col Md Mohiuddin Ahmed, commander of BGB 2 Teknaf Battalion, said: “We have received reports that one person was killed and two others were injured in the firing by the Myanmar Navy on the Myanmar-Bangladesh border in the Bay of Bengal near St Martin’s. Detailed inquiries are underway regarding this incident.”