The entire 270-kilometer area of Myanmar adjacent to the Bangladesh border is now under the control of the rebel Arakan Army. In such a situation, the rebel group has banned the Naf River bordering Teknaf. Due to this, boat traffic on the Naf River is closed. Boat traffic on the Teknaf-Saint Martin waterway is also closed.
Meanwhile, in addition to warning Bangladeshi fishermen, the administration has strengthened guarding the border to prevent infiltration.
In a statement published on its website immediately after the capture of Maungdaw, the Arakan Army said that a ban has been imposed on all types of boat traffic in the Naf River Arakan waters for an indefinite period. After fighting with the Myanmar junta for several months, the Arakan Army claimed to have taken control of Maungdaw city on Sunday (December 8) morning. This was stated in a report by the Myanmar media Irrawaddy on Monday (December 9).
Meanwhile, on Monday and Tuesday (December 8 and 9), the upazila administration issued a warning on this issue. Since then, the movement of boats on the Teknaf-Saint Martin route has been closed.
Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Ehsan Uddin said that due to the ongoing conflict in Myanmar's Rakhine State and the current tense situation, patrols by Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and Coast Guard members have been strengthened on the Naf River to prevent infiltration at the border. In such a situation on the border, fishermen have been asked to be careful while fishing, including issuing a warning to fishermen on the Naf River and sea with their boats.
He said that fishing trawler owners in Teknaf have also been asked not to go towards Myanmar waters. It was also said that the Naf River and the border area are very risky at the moment. The upazila administration issued a mike on the request of the BGB in this regard.
In this tense situation, the BGB and Coast Guard have strengthened patrols on the Bangladesh border. The two border guarding forces were seen on the Naf River and on land to be vigilant against Rohingya infiltration and security.