Teknaf, Bangladesh: Burma’s border security force (Nasaka) authorities seized three fishing boats and its crew this morning when they were returning to Shapuri Dip from the Bay of Bengal in Bangladesh territorial waters, a fisherman from Shapuri Dip said.

The seized boats were on the southern side of Saint-Martin Island and were bringing their catch back to port when Nasaka officials from the Indin camp intervened and brought them to Burmese territory.

Another fisherman from Shapuri Dip said that Nasaka officials contacted the owners of the boats over mobile phone and said that they could get back the boats and crew if they paid money, though it was not clear how much they were demanding.

The owners of the boats have been identified as Khasim, Mohibullah and Shamshu Alam, all from Shapuri Dip in Bangladesh.

The three men said they will request assistance from the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) in retrieving the seized boats and crew, though they were not hopeful that the BDR would be able to broker their release.

One boat owner said that such negotiations with the help of the BDR have worked in the past in securing the release of fishermen detained by Nasaka.

“Why has Nasaka abducted fishing boats from Bangladesh’s waters?” asked one fisherman from Saint Martin Island. Why have the BDR not lodged strong complaints with Nasaka since this happens so frequently?”

He added that several fishing boats have been seized under similar circumstances and were only released after the owners paid for their return.