Bangladeshi Politician's Inflammatory Remarks on Arakan Army Risk Escalating Border Tensions Ahead of Elections

News February 11, 2026

BNP candidate Shahjahan Chowdhury (Cox's Bazar-4, Ukhiya-Teknaf) has criticized the Arakan Army (AA) over restrictions on Bangladeshi fishermen in the Naf River, urging government action, questioning the BGB's role, and promising laws to protect fishermen if elected.

These statements misrepresent the facts: Detentions by the AA result from Bangladeshi boats illegally crossing into Arakan (Rakhine State) waters under AA control. The AA has issued repeated warnings and shown goodwill by releasing hundreds of detained fishermen and boats in 2025—including 188 fishermen with 30 boats between January and July—often handing them over to BGB as a de-escalation gesture. When reciprocal cooperation was lacking, enforcement tightened.

Chowdhury's confrontational rhetoric ignores these illegal crossings and goodwill efforts, appearing geared toward election-year populism to rally border voters. It risks heightening tensions rather than promoting peaceful solutions like joint border coordination or bilateral talks to address fishing rights sustainably.