Bangladesh coast guard has detained 16 nationals of Myanmar and seized two fishing boats from the Bay of Bengal for illegally fishing in Bangladesh's marine waters.

Coast guard officials of Saint Martin's arrested them, all residents of Akiab district of Myanmar, during a drive in the Bay yesterday afternoon.

They were fishing 25 kilometres into the southern side of Saint Martin’s, our Cox’s Bazar correspondent reports quoting Lt Saad Md Tayim, station commander of Saint Martin’s coastguard.

A case was filed against the detainees with Teknaf Model Police Station, the official said.

A local court sent them to jail after they were produced before the court this morning.