Teknaf, Bangladesh, June 1, 2026 — Armed assailants believed to be linked to Rohingya criminal groups opened fire and sank a fishing boat in broad daylight on the Naf River along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, raising fresh security concerns in the area, border authorities and local residents said.
The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon near Sulishpara in Hnila Union of Teknaf, a border region in southeastern Bangladesh adjacent to Myanmar.
According to eyewitnesses, three armed men traveling in a motorized boat pursued a fishing vessel near the border. As the chase reached the Hnila section of the Naf River, the attackers allegedly fired warning shots, forcing two occupants of the fishing boat to jump into the river to save their lives.
The assailants then reportedly seized the vessel, looted fishing nets and other equipment, and towed the boat into the middle of the river before sinking it.
The incident sparked panic among residents and holiday visitors gathered near the embankment area ahead of the Eid festivities. Several bystanders recorded videos of the attack, which reportedly showed the gunmen carrying assault rifles resembling AK-47 weapons.
The Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) said its patrol team responded after hearing gunfire. In a statement, Lieutenant Colonel Zahirul Islam, commanding officer of the 64th BGB Battalion, said the armed group had attempted to intercept a fishing boat inside Bangladeshi waters.
“When the fishermen refused to stop, the attackers fired a round of warning shots,” the statement said.
BGB personnel subsequently rescued and detained two Rohingya men who had jumped into the river during the incident. The suspects were identified as Imam Hossain, 25, and Nurul Amin, 23, both residents of Rohingya refugee camps in Ukhiya, according to authorities.
As the attackers attempted to flee toward the Char Kabyik area via Sulishpara, BGB forces fired five rounds in an effort to stop them. The suspects escaped, officials said.
Authorities said preliminary investigations suggest the detained individuals may have been traveling on the river to transport yaba, a methamphetamine-based narcotic widely trafficked in the border region. Investigators believe a rival Rohingya criminal group may have targeted them during the attack.
The incident has renewed concerns over security along the Naf River, a strategic waterway separating Bangladesh and Myanmar that has long been associated with cross-border smuggling, armed criminal activity, and irregular migration.
Local resident Humayun Rashid called for stronger enforcement measures, saying criminal gangs operating on the river continue to pose a threat to public safety.
Rafiqul Islam, an elected representative of Hnila Union, said the daylight shooting had alarmed local communities and urged residents to exercise caution when traveling near the border area.
Border authorities said investigations into the incident are ongoing.
