The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has apprehended two Bangladeshi fishing trawlers and 78 fishermen for unauthorised fishing in Indian waters.
The incident comes amid the fate of 95 Indian fishermen from South 24-Parganas district, who have been languishing in a Bangladeshi jail since October after being arrested for allegedly crossing the maritime boundary, remains uncertain amidst ongoing political unrest.
Bangladeshi authorities have approached their Indian counterparts seeking the release of their fishermen. But families of the detained Indian fishermen are demanding a "reciprocal" response, urging the Bangladeshi government to release their family members first. They also urged the Centre to consider the release of Bangla fishermen only after their Indian counterparts were set free by the Muhammad Yunus regime.
In October, 95 fishermen from Kakdwip and Namkhana ventured into the sea and were detained by the Bangladesh Coast Guard when they had allegedly crossed the maritime boundary. Two months later on Sunday, the ICG intercepted two Bangladeshi fishing trawlers, FV Laila-2 and FB Meghna-5, during routine patrols along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). The trawlers were taken to Paradip port in Odisha for legal proceedings.
The ICG announced the operation on its official X handle, posting images of the apprehension. One photograph showed the Bangladeshi fishermen kneeling on the deck with their hands behind their heads, while another displayed the detained trawlers being escorted to the jetty.
According to ICG, the trawlers were engaged in illegal fishing within the Indian Maritime Zone. FV Laila-2 carried 41 crew members, and FV Meghna-5 had 37. The vessels and their crews have been booked under the Maritime Zones of India Act, 1981.
While Bangladeshi authorities are negotiating for the release of their citizens, families of the detained Indian fishermen have urged the Indian government to prioritize the release of their loved ones. A relative of a detained fisherman from Kakdwip said, "Our government should negotiate with Bangladesh to secure the release of our men first. For over two months, they have been languishing in jail while Bangladesh has shown a harsh stance. We are not against the release of the Bangladeshi fishermen, but the Bangladesh government should also show a reciprocal gesture."
On October 13, the Bangladesh Coast Guard detained 31 Indian fishermen aboard two boats, Ma Basanti and Jay Jagannath, and handed them over to Kolapara police station in Bangladesh. The following day, 48 more fishermen and three boats, Abhijit, Abhijit-3, and Narayan, were apprehended. Later, an additional 16 fishermen were also detained.
Sources reveal that fishermen from both countries often target lucrative hilsa fish and are frequently arrested for alleged territorial violations. While coast guards claim these incidents involve illegal crossings, fishermen describe them as "inadvertent."
Satinath Patra, secretary of the Sundarban Samudrik Matshyajibi Shramik Union, noted that such incidents have occurred before, but detainees were often released if no ill intent was found.
"Bangladesh has previously pushed back our fishermen, and we have also ignored minor violations. However, the political turmoil in Bangladesh has complicated matters," he said, referencing the arrest of religious figure Chinmoy Krishna Das, which has heightened tensions between the two countries.
Patra refrained from commenting on the families' demand for reciprocity but emphasized the need for both governments to resolve the issue promptly. "It is unfortunate that fishermen from both countries are suffering due to political tensions. I urge both governments to ensure their release unless they are proven guilty of wrongdoing," he added.
The families of the detained fishermen from Namkhana and Kakdwip are enduring immense distress, with no clear resolution in sight. While chief minister Mamata Banerjee assured on October 22 that the state government was working to secure their return, no concrete progress has been made.
