“The Bangladeshi teenager was arrested at the Naff River by a group of border guard police (Hluntin) after fishing between Bangladesh and Burma.”

According to sources, Roshid Meah, 14, from Whykong north village in Cox’s Bazar district went to the river to get food for his family.

“My son was arrested by Burmese border guard police (Hluntin) for allegedly fishing in Burmese territory,” said his father Monaf.  

Monaf has been pleading with Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and fellow villagers to help free his son.

Lt. Col. Abuzar Al Jahid, from BGB Tekanf Battalion 42, said they will try to get the boy and other Bangladeshi prisoners released at the next flag meeting with Burma border authorities.

There are allot of Bangladeshi fishermen and woodcutters trapped in Burmese jails under long jail sentences. Most were arrested by Burmese security forces for allegedly entering Burma illegally, said Halim, a Maungdaw human rights watchdog. Usually they are sent to the Buthidaung Jail because the Maungdaw prison is too small, he said.