MP Seeks Centre’s Help For Release Of AP Fishermen Held In Bangladesh
In letters to external affairs minister S. Jaishankar and India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma, the MP sought urgent diplomatic efforts to secure the fishermen’s release along with their fishing boat: Reports
TIRUPATI: Tirupati MP Dr. Maddila Gurumurthy has urged the Union government to intervene immediately for the release of nine Andhra Pradesh fishermen detained by the Bangladesh Coast Guard.
In letters to external affairs minister S. Jaishankar and India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma, the MP sought urgent diplomatic efforts to secure the fishermen’s release along with their fishing boat.
According to Gurumurthy, the fishermen, all from Vizianagaram district, ventured into the Bay of Bengal on October 21 last year and inadvertently crossed the international maritime boundary near the West Bengal coast due to navigational lapses. They were subsequently detained by the Bangladesh Coast Guard.
The MP said the fishermen depend entirely on traditional fishing for their livelihood and that their prolonged detention has caused severe mental and financial distress to their families. He stressed that there was no criminal intent involved.
He pointed out that Bangladesh is a signatory to international maritime laws and that provisions under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea allow for the release of detained fishermen and vessels in such cases.
Citing humanitarian concerns, Gurumurthy appealed to the Centre and the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh to take immediate steps to resolve the issue and ensure the fishermen’s early release.
