Kolkata: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) on Tuesday successfully repatriated 47 Indian fishermen from Bangladesh, along with three Indian fishing boats that had been seized by Bangladeshi authorities.
According to officials, the repatriation—approved by the Ministry of External Affairs—was coordinated by the ICG in close communication with the West Bengal government.
As part of a reciprocal arrangement, India also released 32 Bangladeshi fishermen and a Bangladeshi fishing boat that had been detained for illegally fishing inside the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). These fishermen were handed over to Bangladesh Coast Guard vessels BCGS Kamaruzzaman and Sadhin Bangla by the Indian Coast Guard Ship Vijaya, the official said.
The exchange took place along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the Bay of Bengal.
The repatriated Indian fishermen and their three recovered boats were brought to Fazerganj, West Bengal, by ICGS Vijaya and will be handed over to the state government on December 10.
Officials said the mutual exchange was arranged keeping in mind the humanitarian and livelihood concerns of the fishing communities. Over the past three months, the ICG has apprehended six Bangladeshi fishing vessels for operating illegally in the Indian EEZ.
The ICG maintains constant vigilance along the IMBL to prevent Indian boats from drifting into Bangladeshi waters. Despite regular “shepherding” efforts, some fishermen still cross over, especially through shallow waters. In the past year alone, more than 300 Indian boats were guided back into Indian waters by ICG units.
To prevent such incidents, ICG teams regularly conduct Community Interaction Programmes (CIPs) in coastal villages—along with fisheries officials and Marine Police—to educate fishermen on the risks and legal consequences of crossing the IMBL.
Crossing into foreign waters without valid documents is a serious offence, officials cautioned, often resulting in arrest by foreign agencies and causing significant hardship to fishermen and their families.
The ICG has urged the state administration to issue strict advisories to sensitise local fishing communities about the security and legal implications of such violations.
With inputs from IANS