As many as 74 Bangladeshi fishermen have been detained in Myanmar for the past six months, according to Nurul Islam, a fellow fisherman from Teknaf.
On November 6, 2016, fishermen crewing three trawlers drifted into Myanmar waters in the Bay of Bengal due to heavy winds. They were stopped by the Myanmar Navy, Nurul Islam said.
Family members have been trying to secure their release ever since, but have not succeeded, he added.
Osman Goni, a fishing boat owner, said concerned relatives and friends complained to the authorities on November 30, 2016. He said he has been told that Bangladeshi officials approached their Myanmar counterparts about the 74 detained men, but their release has still not been secured.
Family of the missing men urged Myanmar to release them as soon as possible, according to a statement.
Edited by Laignee Barron
