95 detained Indian fishermen released from 2 jails

At least 95 Indian fishermen were released from Patuakhali District Jail and Bagerhat District Jail on Thursday after being detained at various times by the Bangladesh Coast Guard and Bangladesh Navy for illegally entering Bangladeshi waters.

Our Barishal correspondent reports, at least 31 fishermen were handed over to the South Zone of the Bangladesh Coast Guard from Patuakhali District Jail in the morning following the withdrawal of legal cases under the repatriation agreement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Patuakhali Deputy Commissioner Abu Hasnat Mohammad Arefin said that under the bilateral prisoner exchange agreement, the 31 fishermen were released in the presence of SS Mathi, a representative of the Indian High Commission.

The released fishermen were sent to the Kalapara Police Station. From there, the Coast Guard will escort them, along with their trawlers, to the maritime boundary between India and Bangladesh, where they will be handed over to the Indian Coast Guard.

Earlier, on the night of October 15, during a patrol, Navy personnel from the BNS Shaheed Akhtar Uddin detained these fishermen along with two vessels in Bangladeshi waters.

During the operation, 50 maunds of various types of sea fish, including hilsa, were seized. Later, the fishermen were sent to the district jail through the court.

Our Bagerhat correspondent reports, at least 64 Indian fishermen were handed over to officials from the Indian High Commission in the presence of prison authorities, executive magistrates from the district administration, police, the Bangladesh Coast Guard, and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Later, the Coast Guard escorted the fishermen to Mongla.

The 48 Indian fishermen were detained on October 18, and 16 more on November 22 in 2024.

They were detained by the Coast Guard and Navy for illegally entering Bangladeshi waters and fishing.

Cases were filed against them under Section 22 of the Marine Fisheries Ordinance of 1893, and they were sent to court through the Mongla police station.

Following court orders, they were sent to Bagerhat District Jail.

On 31 December and 1 January, Senior Judicial Magistrate Kamrul Azad ordered their release.

Bagerhat District Jail Superintendent Shankar Kumar Majumder said that with the court's bail and approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs, the 64 Indians detained were officially handed over to Indian High Commission officials in the presence of all concerned parties.