Firing from Burma causes food blockade in Bangladesh’s tourist Island

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) – Bangladesh’s coral rich St. Martin Island is facing a food crisis as communication remains suspended due to intermittent firing from across the border with Burma, officials said.

The small island of about 8 square kilometers is located in the northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal with natural beauty which makes it the top tourist destination in Bangladesh.

In the last four days, about three boats came under attacks in the Naikkhyongdia area of the transboundary Naf River, the only river that runs between Bangladesh and Myanmar through the Teknaf-St Martin’s route in southeastern Cox’s Bazar district.

Later, the owners stopped the boat service.

St Martin’s Union Council Chairman Mujibur Rahman said that unknown persons from the Myanmar border fired at boats carrying food and passengers along the estuary of the transboundary Naf River and Bay of Bengal.

Local fishermen also could not go fishing in the Naf River due to fear of gunfire, he said, adding: “Daily commodities also couldn’t be transported to the Island having a population of about 11,000. Tourists also got stuck and faced food and accommodation crises.”

“We have informed the town and district authorities. They are searching for alternative routes. However, we don’t know any alternative water routes available to connect the Island to land,” he added.

Conflict escalated between the Burmese military junta forces and the ethnocentric radical Arakan Army and other insurgent groups in Burma, which also affected neighboring Bangladesh.

Director general of the Myanmar wing at Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mia Md Mainul Kabir said that they have regular communication with Myanmar over such firing from across the border.

“We are working to ensure the safety of our people in consultation with all the government agencies concerned and searching alternative routes to the Island,” he added.