128 Bangladeshi, 23 Indian fishermen repatriated under agreement
Bangladesh handed over 23 Indian fishermen and two Indian fishing boats to the Indian Coast Guard.
Bangladesh has repatriated 128 fishermen who had been detained in India under a mutual repatriation arrangement between the two neighbours.
At the same time, 23 Indian fishermen held in Bangladesh were sent back to India under the same arrangement, according to a press release.
Bangladesh Coast Guard received 128 fishermen and five fishing boats from the Indian Coast Guard during a handover ceremony at the international maritime boundary line in the Bay of Bengal.
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Bangladesh handed over 23 Indian fishermen and two Indian fishing boats to the Indian Coast Guard.
Several government agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Bangladesh Coast Guard, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Ministry of Shipping, Border Guard Bangladesh, Bangladesh Police, and local administration, worked jointly to facilitate the repatriation process.
The mutual exchange of fishermen and their vessels was arranged with humanitarian and livelihood concerns of fishing communities in mind, the Indian External Affairs Ministry said.
"The well-being of the Indian fishermen during their detention was monitored by the Indian High Commission, which provided them with warm jackets and ensured they had essential supplies," the ministry added.
