Kolkata: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) successfully carried out the repatriation of 47 Indian fishermen from Bangladesh on Tuesday.
An official said that three Indian fishing boats that had been seized by Bangladeshi authorities were also brought back.
He said that the repatriation had been approved by the Ministry of External Affairs, and the operation was coordinated by the ICG, which kept in contact with the West Bengal government.
“The repatriation process was part of a reciprocal arrangement, wherein India also released 32 Bangladeshi fishermen along with a Bangladesh fishing boat. These fishermen and the boat were apprehended by the ICG for illegal fishing within the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Bangladeshi fishermen were safely handed over to the Bangladesh Coast Guard ships BCGS Kamaruzzaman and Sadhin Bangla by the Indian Coast Guard Ship Vijaya,” a senior official said.
He said that the exchange took place along the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the Bay of Bengal.
The official added that the repatriated Indian fishermen, along with the three fishing boats, were brought to Fazerganj, West Bengal, by Indian Coast Guard Ship Vijaya and will be handed over to the West Bengal Government on December 10.
“This mutual exchange of fishermen and their vessels was worked out by the MEA, keeping in mind the humanitarian and livelihood concerns of fishing communities. Indian Coast Guard has apprehended six Bangladeshi fishing boats operating illegally in the Indian EEZ over the last three months,” the official said.
He said that ICG assets maintain constant vigil along the IMBL to prevent any Indian fishing boats from crossing into Bangladeshi territory.
“Units are regularly engaged in shepherding of Indian boats, but a few continue to cross over, using shallow waters. In the last year, more than 300 Indian fishing boats have been shepherded back to Indian waters by ICG units at IMBL,” he said.
The official added that, in addition, ICG units are regularly conducting Community Interaction Programme (CIP) at all possible fishing villages with the fishermen community to discourage them from crossing the IMBL.
“This is done in coordination with local fisheries and Marine Police representatives,” the official added.
The crossing of the IMBL and fishing in foreign waters by Indian fishing boats, without valid documents, is a serious offence and has grave consequences, he warned.
“Such violations result in apprehension by foreign law enforcement/maritime agencies. It also causes avoidable physical and mental agony to the fishermen and their families,” he said.
The official said that the ICG has also requested the state administration to issue necessary directives to concerned officials to sensitise the local fishing community on the legal and security implications of crossing the IMBL.
(IANS)
