34 Sundarban fishermen detained by Bangladesh for accidentally crossing maritime border

Thirty-four Indian fishermen from West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district were detained by the Bangladesh Coast Guard after they reportedly crossed into Bangladeshi waters while fishing in the Bay of Bengal. The incident occurred around 2 a.m. on Sunday, approximately 77 nautical miles off Mongla Port. The fishermen were on two trawlers when they were intercepted and taken into custody.

According to fishermen’s associations, all the detained fishermen are residents of the Sundarbans region. They had gone to sea for fishing and reportedly lost direction due to darkness and rough weather, leading them into Bangladesh’s maritime territory. The Bangladesh Coast Guard seized the two trawlers and associated equipment, and later handed the vessels over to the Mongla police station.

Officials from fishermen’s groups have stated that they are in constant contact with the Indian government to facilitate the early release of the detained individuals. The process of communication with Bangladeshi authorities is underway through diplomatic channels. There have been similar past incidents in the region due to the proximity of international maritime boundaries and fishing zones.