34 Indian fishermen detained by Bangladesh navy

Thirty-four Indian fishermen were detained by the Bangladesh Navy in the Bay of Bengal near the Sundarbans for allegedly crossing into Bangladesh’s territorial waters, Indian officials said on Monday.

The fishermen, who had set out from Kakdwip in West Bengal’s South 24-Parganas district, were aboard two trawlers —FB Jhor and FB Mangalchandi 38 — when they were apprehended near the Mongla port in Bangladesh late Sunday night. According to a statement from the Bangladesh Navy, the Indian fishing trawlers crossed the international maritime boundary in the dark and were intercepted during a routine patrol. The detained fishermen and their vessels have been taken to Mangla port, and legal proceedings have been initiated by Bangladesh’s department of fisheries and inland water transport. News of the detention has triggered anxiety among families of the fishermen in Kakdwip and Namkhana. “We received a call from Bangladesh informing us that they’ve been taken to the police station. They said they are safe, but we are worried until they return home,” said a family member of one of the detained fishermen. West Bengal’s department of fisheries has taken up the matter with urgency. Officials said the Indian High Commission in Dhaka is in touch with Bangladeshi authorities to secure the early release of the fishermen. The incident has also raised concerns about the reliability of GPS systems used on Indian trawlers, with questions being raised over navigation protocols during deep-sea fishing trips.

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“This is not the first time such an incident has occurred,” said Satinath Patra, a leader of the Sundarban Marine Fishermen’s Union. “In the past, Indian and Bangladeshi trawlers have inadvertently entered each other’s waters. But this time, Bangladesh is treating it more seriously. We need to enhance awareness and safety measures.” Repeated border violations in the maritime region have sparked growing concern among authorities, prompting calls for increased vigilance and better navigational infrastructure to prevent future incidents.