Diplomatic channels bore fruit Thursday as Bangladesh repatriated 23 Indian fishermen and two boats detained for entering their territorial waters. The pre-dawn operation at the Bay of Bengal’s IMBL saw India reciprocate by freeing 128 Bangladeshi fishermen caught fishing illegally in its EEZ, along with their five vessels.
Facilitated by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and ICG in tandem with Bangladeshi officials, the exchange proceeded flawlessly. The Indians faced arrest for crossing the IMBL, while Bangladeshis underwent Foreigners Act proceedings post-detention.
ICGS Samudra Prahari and ICGS Vijay coordinated the transfer of Bangladeshis to Bangladesh’s Kamaruzzaman and Sonar Bangla. Indians were handed back after paperwork clearance, with all parties sailing towards West Bengal for state handover and homeward journeys.
Defence Ministry officials attributed the smooth operation to focused humanitarian diplomacy, addressing livelihood woes of India’s vast coastal fisherfolk. The statement celebrated it as proof of shared commitment to fishermen’s security and enhanced sea-based partnerships.
Coast Guard spokespersons cautioned fishermen against chasing richer fishing grounds across borders, pointing to arrests, family financial strains, and repatriation delays. Boats’ GPS and satellite DAT systems aid surveillance, yet deliberate deactivations evade tracking— a peril amplified in the Bay’s stormy cyclones when boats vanish.
As families prepare joyous welcomes, this swap symbolizes strengthening India-Bangladesh relations, urging tech-savvy compliance to avert future mishaps in contested waters.