India and Bangladesh conducted a coordinated maritime exchange on Friday, repatriating 151 fishermen and seven fishing vessels across the International Maritime Boundary Line. This included 23 Indian fishermen and two Indian fishing boats returning to India, while 128 Bangladeshi fishermen and five vessels, detained for illegal fishing in India's Exclusive Economic Zone, were released. The operation was overseen by India's Ministry of External Affairs and Coast Guard in collaboration with Bangladeshi authorities.
Maritime cooperation between India and Bangladesh is strengthening to address livelihood issues of fishing communities in the Bay of Bengal. The exchange on Friday at the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) involved Indian Coast Guard ships Samudra Paheredar and Vijaya meeting Bangladeshi vessels Kamaruzzaman and Sonar Bangla.
The repatriated Indian fishermen are being escorted to port and will be handed over to state administrations for family reunions. A Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson stated, "The mutual exchange is a result of concerted diplomatic efforts, keeping in mind the humanitarian concerns of the fishing communities. This reaffirms the collective commitment of both nations toward ensuring the safety of fishermen."
This operation highlights ongoing efforts to manage shared waters where illegal fishing incidents are frequent, promoting safety and collaboration between the two neighbors.
