India repatriates 91 Bangladeshi fishermen after jail sentences

Finally, 91 Bangladeshi fishermen detained in India have returned home. They were able to be brought back after the government's diplomatic initiatives and the completion of necessary bilateral procedures.

Coast Guard West Zone Officer Kander Shah Kamruzzaman confirmed the matter on Monday (June 8). He said that on December 16 and 17 last year and on January 20 and February 16 this year, the Indian Coast Guard detained 91 Bangladeshi fishermen along with four Bangladeshi fishing boats on charges of illegal fishing in Indian waters.

Later, at the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, an agreement was reached to return the detained fishermen and boats through necessary diplomatic communication and mutual coordination between the Bangladesh Coast Guard and the Indian Coast Guard.

In light of that decision, the Bangladesh Coast Guard received 91 fishermen and four fishing boats from the Indian Coast Guard in the Bangladesh-India International Maritime Boundary (IMBL) area on June 7.

They were then brought to the Coast Guard Base Mongla on Monday afternoon. After the formalities, the fishermen were handed over to their family members along with their fishing boats.