Bangladesh is going to hand over 95 Indian fishermen to India after they were freed from jails while India is set to return 90 Bangladeshi fishermen detained there to Bangladesh in a move for reciprocal repatriation to be completed on January 5.
鈥楾he exchange of fishermen detained in India and Bangladesh will be held on Sunday if everything goes as per the schedule,鈥� foreign adviser Md Touhid Hossain told reporters while visiting the recently renovated DCAB Lounge at the foreign ministry in the capital Dhaka.
There were 90 Bangladeshi fishermen detained in Indian jails while 95 Indian fishermen were sent to Bangladesh prisons recently for crossing the maritime border between the two countries, according to officials.
As the foreign adviser was introduced to the new executive committee of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh, he called upon journalists covering issues related to foreign affairs to play a responsible role.
Foreign secretary Md Jashim Uddin and outgoing DCAB president Nurul Islam Hasib spoke at the event attended, among others, by newly elected president AKM Moinuddin and secretary Md Arifuzzaman Mamun.
鈥楾he Bangladesh Coast Guard has initiated the process of handing over 95 Indian fishermen/crew members to the Indian Coast Guard and receiving 90 Bangladeshi fishermen/crew members,鈥� said the foreign ministry later on the day, adding that the reciprocal repatriation process had already begun and it would be completed on December 5.
Furthermore, two Bangladeshi fishing vessels detained in India and six Indian fishing boats detained in Bangladesh will also be exchanged between the two coast guard entities.
The repatriation process is being facilitated through the joint efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Bangladesh Coast Guard, Bangladesh Police, local administration and other relevant agencies.
After the handing over event on January 5 at the International Maritime Border, the Bangladeshi fishermen/crew members along with their fishing vessels are expected to return to Chattogram in the afternoon of January 6, according to the foreign ministry release.
Bangladeshi authorities detained total 95 Indian fishermen and six fishing boats inside Bangladesh waters during October-November 2024.
On January 2, the 95 Indian fishermen/crew members, who were held in Bagerhat and Patuakhali district jails, had been released, the release mentioned.聽
On the other hand, near the international maritime boundary, a total of 78 Bangladeshi fishermen/crew members aboard two fishing vessels, FV Laila-2 and FV Meghna-5, were detained by Indian authorities on December 9, 2024.
Twelve Bangladeshi fishermen/crew members who were detained by Indian authorities on September 12, 2024 after their fishing boat FB Kaushik sank due to adverse weather conditions have already been released from jails.
The rest 78 Bangladeshi fishermen/crew members are held at Paradeep of Odisha in India under the supervision of Indian Coast Guard while 12 Bangladeshi fishermen are held at Kakdwip of West Bengal in India, said the foreign ministry release.
