Nine Fishermen Released By Bangladesh To Reach Vizag
Sources said that 128 Bangladeshi fishermen detained in India were repatriated last Thursday under a reciprocal arrangement, while 23 Indian fishermen held in Bangladesh were also released. Of the 23 Indian fishermen, 14 are from West Bengal.
Visakhapatnam: Nine fishermen who were arrested by Bangladesh authorities and released on January 26 are expected to reach Visakhapatnam on Monday evening.
According to V. Satyanarayana, owner of the fishing boat, the Bangladesh Coast Guard handed over the fishermen to the Indian Coast Guard at the International Maritime Boundary Line on January 29. They are currently being escorted to the Visakhapatnam coast.
He said two fishing boats carrying 15 crew members sailed from Visakhapatnam on January 29 to receive the fishermen mid-sea and accompany them to the Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour.
Joint director of fisheries P. Lakshmana Rao said 13 Bangladeshi fishermen had departed Visakhapatnam port aboard an Indian Naval ship and would be handed over to the Bangladesh Coast Guard at the international maritime border while returning home.
On the directions of Visakhapatnam collector M. N. Harindranath, new clothes were provided to the repatriated fishermen, officials said.
Sources said that 128 Bangladeshi fishermen detained in India were repatriated last Thursday under a reciprocal arrangement, while 23 Indian fishermen held in Bangladesh were also released. Of the 23 Indian fishermen, 14 are from West Bengal.
The exchange was carried out by the coast guards of the two countries at the International Maritime Boundary Line in the Bay of Bengal. The Bangladesh Coast Guard received 128 Bangladeshi fishermen along with five Bangladeshi fishing boats from the Indian Coast Guard, while handing over 23 Indian fishermen and two India-owned fishing boats, the sources added.
