Teknaf: The Burmese navy released five Bangladesh fishing boast and ten fishermen on Thursday morning after taking a 7.5 million kyat ransom from the fishing boat owners, said one owner.

He said, "The Burmese navy released our boats and men three days after they were abducted from Bangladesh waters in the early morning of 10 January, 2011. Navy personnel asked for ten million kyat for ransom, but we could only pay 7.5 million kyat, or 1.5 million per fishing boat."

On 10 January, 2011, Burmese navy personnel intruded into Bangladesh waters near St. Martin Island in Teknaf Township in a large machine boat and abducted 52 Bangladeshi fishermen and seized six fishing boats under gunpoint.

When the fishing boats reached Burmese waters, 42 fishermen were sent back to Bangladesh with one boat, and were told to deliver a message about the ransom for the remaining fishermen and boats.

"We sent a group of brokers on Wednesday to the Burmese navy base on the Arakan coast, along with the 7.5 million kyat ransom. When the Burmese navy officers received the ransom, they released the five boats and ten fishermen. The fishing boats arrived at St. Martin in the early morning on Thursday," the boat owner said.

The navy personnel involved in the abduction are from Ray Chan Bying Naval Base located at the mouth of the Mayu River.

However, Bangladesh newspapers reported the hostages were taken by Nasaka, the border security force, and claimed they asked for a ransom of 1.2 million Bangladesh taka.