Kolkata: In a coordinated humanitarian effort, Bangladesh authorities handed over 23 Indian fishermen and two fishing boats to India on Thursday, following joint efforts by India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Coast Guard (ICG).
The fishermen had been detained for crossing the International Maritime Border Line (IMBL) into Bangladesh's territorial waters while fishing.
As part of the mutual arrangement, India released 128 Bangladeshi fishermen and five of their boats, who had been apprehended by the ICG for illegal fishing in India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and prosecuted under the Foreigners Act.
The exchange occurred early Thursday along the IMBL in the Bay of Bengal. ICGS Samudra Paheredar and ICGS Vijaya transferred the Bangladeshis to Bangladesh Coast Guard ships Kamaruzzaman and Sonar Bangla, while the Indians were received after documentation.
The ICG vessels then escorted the fishermen and boats toward the West Bengal coast for handover to state authorities.
A Ministry of Defence statement highlighted MEA's role in facilitating the swap, emphasizing support for fishing communities' livelihoods along India's coastline. "This reaffirms both nations' commitment to fishermen's safety through maritime cooperation," it noted.
ICG officials urged Indian fishermen to avoid crossing the IMBL, noting modern boats have GPS and Distress Alert Transponders (DATs) to track locations. However, those attempting illegal crossings often disable DATs, complicating rescues, especially during cyclones, and causing prolonged family hardship.
(Inputs from IANS)