India rescues, hands over 32 fishermen to Bangladesh after boats capsize

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) – Indian Coast Guard rescued 32 Bangladeshi fishermen and handed them over to Bangladesh on Tuesday, India’s Defense Ministry said.

In a statement, the ministry said the 32 Bangladeshi fishermen were rescued after their boats capsized at Indo-Bangla International Maritime Boundary Line and were handed over "in accordance with existing memorandum of understanding between the two coast guards."

The Bangladeshi fishermen’s boats had capsized during cyclonic weather/depression, which traveled along the coast of Bangladesh and West Bengal between Aug. 19-20, the statement said.

“Most of these fishermen were found clinging on to nets/floats in turbulent sea and struggling to survive for almost 24 hours after their boats had capsized.”

It said out of 32 Bangladeshi fishermen, 27 were rescued by the Indian Coast Guard in deep waters and five were rescued by Indian fishermen in shallow areas.

Sometimes, fishing boats and fishermen of three South Asian neighboring countries (Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar) drift away into neighboring territories due to bad weather. In that case, the drifting fishermen are returned to their concerned countries through official procedures.

Such accidents are common in the region especially during the monsoon period, the primary season of catching Hilsha fish.

On Sunday, local authorities in Bangladesh reported that at least five fishing boats with more than 70 fishermen in southern coastal district of Barguna have been missing since Friday night due to a strong storm.

The fishermen went to the Bay of Bengal for catching Hilsha (Elish) fish, which is the national fish in Bangladesh, while the gusty storm swept over the southern sea, a common place to catch Hilsha fish in Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar.

“We have not found any trace of five fishing boats (locally called trawlers) with over 70 fishermen till now,” Abdul Mannan, president of Barguna Trawler Laborer Union, had told Anadolu Agency on Sunday morning.