India and Bangladesh Set to Exchange Detained Fishermen This Sunday
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Kolkata, Jan 4 (NationPress) India and Bangladesh are poised to exchange fishermen from both nations on Sunday, who were detained after their fishing vessels inadvertently crossed the international coastal borders into the respective waters of the other country.
The exchange will occur in the Bay of Bengal, with oversight from the coast guard agencies of both nations.
As part of this arrangement, a total of 95 Indian fishermen will be returning home.
Conversely, 90 Bangladeshi fishermen will be sent back to their country.
A government official from West Bengal mentioned that the majority of the returning Indian fishermen hail from the South 24 Parganas district.
On Monday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will be present in Sagar Islands, located in the South 24 Parganas district, to oversee the preparations for the upcoming Gangasagar Mela. Arrangements have been made to allow the fishermen returning to India on Sunday to meet with the Chief Minister on Monday,” the official noted.
In October of the previous year, six Indian fishing trawlers carrying these 95 fishermen strayed into Bangladeshi coastal waters, leading to their arrest.
Recently, the interim government of Bangladesh declared the decision to release the 95 Indian fishermen and transfer them to Indian authorities.
Similarly, the Indian government has also opted to release 90 Bangladeshi fishermen who had been detained in Indian waters over various incidents. Thus, the official exchange of fishermen between the two nations is set for Sunday.
Last month, Mamata Banerjee criticized the Union government for its apparent indifference regarding the plight of West Bengal fishermen who remain imprisoned in Bangladesh after crossing the international maritime lines.
