In a significant move of bilateral cooperation, Bangladesh on Thursday repatriated 128 of its fishermen who were detained in India for inadvertently crossing the maritime border. Simultaneously, 23 Indian fishermen were returned to their home country through a reciprocal arrangement facilitated by the Coast Guards of both nations.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the handover ceremony took place at the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh Coast Guard officially received the 128 fishermen along with five fishing boats, while returning 23 Indian fishermen and two India-owned boats to their counterparts.
The coordinated effort involved several ministries, including Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, and Fisheries, along with the BGB and local police. This repatriation reflects the ongoing humanitarian and diplomatic commitment between the two neighboring countries to address the plight of fishing communities.