Freed Vizag Fishermen Say They Faced Difficulty in Bangladesh Prison
They were received by the Coast Guard, Navy personnel and fisheries and revenue officials.
Visakhapatnam:The nine fishermen from Visakhapatnam, who were freed by Bangladesh on January 29, arrived at the fishing harbour here in the early hours on Monday, escorted by an Indian Navy vessel.
They were received by the Coast Guard, Navy personnel and fisheries and revenue officials.
The Bangladesh Coast Guard intercepted a boat carrying nine fishermen from Vizianagaram district after they accidentally strayed into that country’s coastal waters due to the vessel’s engine failure.
The team of fishermen had left the Vizag fishing harbour on October 13 and allegedly crossed the International Maritime border into the Bangladesh waters in the deep sea. They were apprehended by the Bangladesh coastguard on October 21.
Narrating their harrowing experience in the prison, they said they went through hell for three and half months, being uncertain of their release and survival.
“They served bad quality brown rice with vegetables cooked in mustard oil, which none of us could eat. We suffered from fever and nausea and were hospitalized for 15 days in the jail premises,’’ said Marupalli Ramesh, the only unmarried worker of the ill-fated boat.
Talking to Deccan Chronicle, he said there was a communication gap between them and the jail staff as they spoke only Bengali. “Though there was no violence from them, we feared for our lives as no word of support was forthcoming from the Indian authorities.”
Ramesh said due to his imprisonment, his mother became seriously ill and was hospitalised.
He said that after coordinated efforts at different levels, the case was withdrawn by the Bangladesh Coast Guard and they were freed on January 29.
They were informed about their release after the Bangladesh government agreed to free them, he noted.
On Monday, boat owners in the harbour expressed their unhappiness, saying the local administration did not send these fishermen to a hospital on their arrival here for a comprehensive medical checkup.
In the present release of fishermen, there was a quid pro quo arrangement. Bangladesh repatriated 23 Indian fishermen (nine from Visakhapatnam district and 14 from West Bengal); and India released 13 Bangladeshi fishermen, who were arrested by the coastal security police in Srikakulam district. They had entered the Indian waters near Mosavanipeta coast in Etcherla mandal of Srikakulam district in November last year.