The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) collaborated with Bangladesh authorities to successfully repatriate 23 Indian fishermen and two Indian fishing boats detained in Bangladesh. These fishermen had crossed the International Maritime Border Line (IMBL) to fish in Bangladesh’s waters, leading to their detention. In return, India released 128 Bangladeshi fishermen and five Bangladeshi fishing boats as part of a reciprocal arrangement.
The exchange of fishermen and boats occurred in the Bay of Bengal along the IMBL early on Thursday. Indian Coast Guard ships handed over the Bangladeshi fishermen to Bangladesh Coast Guard ships in a coordinated manner. The repatriated Indian fishermen, along with the boats, will be handed over to the state administration for their return home. This repatriation effort aimed to address the humanitarian and livelihood concerns of fishing communities along India’s coastline.
The successful repatriation highlights the commitment of both nations to ensuring the safety and well-being of fishermen and emphasizes the importance of maritime collaboration in shared seas. Indian Coast Guard officials cautioned against crossing the IMBL for better catches, emphasizing the risks and hardships involved. Fishing boats today are equipped with GPS and other tracking devices, but some fishermen disable these systems to avoid detection, leading to challenges during emergencies like cyclones in the Bay of Bengal.
