Bangladesh to send over 500 fishermen back to India

By SM Najmus Sakib

DHAKA, Bangladesh, (AA) - Bangladesh will hand over more than 500 fishermen to Indian water border authority after they crossed the Bangladesh sea border, said an official to Anadolu agency on Sunday.

A total of 519 fishermen who have been under Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) custody for crossing into Bangladesh’s territorial waters in Patuakhali, a district in south-central Bangladesh, will be sent back to their country in due procedure, public relations officer of BCG, Lt Commander M Hamidul Islam, told Anadolu Agency.

“The Bangladeshi foreign ministry and other relevant agencies have already held meetings with the related Indian authorities, and the fishermen will be handed over to Indian Coast Guard soon after the current rough sea weather clears up,” he added.

Hamidul mentioned that BCG has not arrested or detained the fishermen rather they are in their custody, and BCG are providing them with food, medical treatment and necessary safety and security.

The fishermen might have crossed into Bangladesh's territorial waters after facing rough sea weather, and now they are under surveillance of BCG authority, he added.

He, however, mentioned that Indian authorities would investigate whether they crossed the Bangladesh sea line due to bad weather or for fishing.

BCG took those Indian fishermen into custody along with 32 trawlers from bay of Bangel on July 7.