Bangladesh repatriates 91 fishermen detained in India

The handover takes place at the maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal

Amid growing concern over reports of people being pushed into Bangladesh through land borders from India, the government has secured the return of 91 Bangladeshi fishermen who had been detained by the Indian Coast Guard.

On Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the fishermen were formally handed over by the Indian Coast Guard to its Bangladesh counterpart at the maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal.

The ministry said four Bangladeshi fishing vessels were also returned during the handover operation.

The repatriation comes at a time when reports have emerged almost daily of people being forced across different frontier points into Bangladesh.

Indian authorities have described those returned as “illegal Bangladeshis”.

The issue has coincided with reports of tensions in several border areas involving Bangladesh’s Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), India’s Border Security Force (BSF), and locals.

Referring to the repatriation of the fishermen through diplomatic channels, the ministry said: “Bangladesh has always provided assistance in the repatriation of Bangladeshi nationals residing abroad whenever the proper bilateral procedures are followed.”

According to the ministry, the operation was conducted through coordinated efforts involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Bangladesh Coast Guard, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Ministry of Shipping, Bangladesh Police, local administration and other relevant agencies.