Photo : ISPR

DHAKA, April 8, 2025 (BSS) - The Bangladesh Navy has detained 214 Rohingyas in the Bay of Bengal while they were attempting to illegally enter Malaysia from the deep sea by fishing boat lacking basic safety measures.

The detained displaced Myanmar nationals comprised of 118 men, 68 women and 28 children, said an ISPR press release.

The group was arrested on Tuesday after being found aboard a fishing trawler, “FV Kulsuma”, during a routine patrol in the Bay of Bengal.

The Navy’s patrol ship Banauja Durjoy intercepted the vessel named FV Kulsuma after observing suspicious movements 44 nautical miles southwest of Saint Martin’s Island.

The trawler lacked essential life-saving equipment, adequate food, water, and safety measures, posing a serious risk of a humanitarian disaster in the deep sea, read the release.

The boat departed from the Shaplapur area under Teknaf police station in Cox’s Bazar around 2:00 am on Tuesday.

Following the interception, the Navy handed over the vessel and all 214 Myanmar nationals to the Bangladesh Coast Guard Station at Saint Martin’s Island for legal proceedings.