India, Bangladesh repatriate 151 fishermen

New Delhi/Dhaka, Jan 30: India and Bangladesh completed a reciprocal release and repatriation of fishermen who had inadvertently crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

Officials said the two sides saw it as a humanitarian approach to longstanding maritime boundary issues.

A total of 23 Indian fishermen detained by Bangladesh authorities and 128 Bangladeshi fishermen held in India were released and sent back to their respective countries along with their operable fishing vessels, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

“The exchange was in view of the humanitarian and livelihood considerations of the fishing communities on both sides. India remains committed to the well-being and safety of our fishing community,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.

The fishermen had been arrested in recent weeks after straying into each other’s territorial waters during routine fishing activities.

Officials said the exchange was finalised through close coordination between the two governments, keeping in view the livelihood concerns of coastal communities that depend heavily on small-scale fishing.

The latest release follows similar exchanges earlier this winter.

During the period of detention, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka monitored the welfare of the Indian fishermen and arranged for essential supplies, including warm jackets, officials said.

New Delhi said it attaches the highest importance to the safety, security and welfare of Indian fishermen and continues to engage Bangladeshi authorities on mechanisms to prevent inadvertent crossings and ensure swift humanitarian treatment when such incidents occur.

Cross-border arrests of fishermen remain a recurring issue in the Bay of Bengal, where poorly demarcated fishing zones, lack of navigational equipment on small boats, and seasonal fish movements often lead to accidental boundary violations.