New Delhi: On Sunday Bangladesh will hand over 95 Indian fishermen to the Indian Coast Guard, while India will hand over 90 Bangladeshi fishermen in a mutual release and repatriation operation, a statement said.
The Ministry of External Affairs in a statement said:
“In recent months, several Indian fishermen have been arrested by Bangladesh authorities when they happened to inadvertently cross the International Maritime Boundary Line and entered Bangladesh waters. Several Bangladesh fishermen have also been apprehended by Indian authorities in similar circumstances.
“The Government of India attaches the highest importance to the safety, security and welfare of Indian fishermen. To this end, it has worked assiduously to secure the release of our fishermen from Bangladesh custody.
“Earlier today, 95 Indian fishermen were handed over by Bangladesh authorities to the Bangladesh Coast Guard for handing over to the Indian Coast Guard on January 5, 2025. On the same day, 90 Bangladesh fishermen will also be released in a mutual release and repatriation operation that will be concluded at sea between the respective Coast Guard authorities.”
The MEA statement added that “the mutual exchange of fishermen and their vessels has been worked out keeping in mind the primarily humanitarian and livelihood concerns of fishing communities on both sides”.
This comes in the backdrop of demands by Bangladesh’s army-backed Interim Government that India repatriate ex-Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina who has been residing in India since August 5, 2024, when she fled Dhaka in the face of a “student-led” uprising. India has refused to comment on this demand by Bangladesh.
UNI
