Daijiworld Media Network - Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam, Feb 2: Nine fishermen from Andhra Pradesh returned to Visakhapatnam on Monday after being released from a Bangladesh jail, four months after their detention by the Bangladesh Navy for inadvertently crossing maritime boundaries while fishing in the Bay of Bengal.
The Indian Coast Guard escorted the fishermen to the Visakhapatnam coast and handed them over to the marine police. Families shared tearful reunions, expressing gratitude to both the Central and state governments for ensuring the safe return of their loved ones.
The fishermen had been handed over to the Indian Coast Guard by the Bangladesh Coast Guard at the International Maritime Boundary Line on January 29. Two India-owned fishing boats, carrying 15 crew members, sailed from Visakhapatnam to meet them mid-sea and brought them safely to Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour.
The nine fishermen were part of a larger group of 23 Indians released by Bangladesh; the remaining 14 were from West Bengal. Two India-owned fishing boats were also repatriated to Indian authorities.
As part of a reciprocal arrangement, the Indian Coast Guard handed over 128 Bangladeshi fishermen and five Bangladeshi fishing boats to Bangladesh. The repatriated Bangladeshi fishermen included 13 who had drifted into Indian waters and reached Andhra Pradesh after running out of fuel and food. They were taken from Visakhapatnam port aboard an Indian Naval ship and handed over at the international maritime border.
Officials noted that the returning Indian fishermen were provided with new clothes under the direction of Visakhapatnam Collector M. N. Harindranath.
The incident follows a similar event on November 30 last year, when 13 Bangladeshi fishermen were rescued by marine police in Srikakulam district after drifting towards the Indian coast due to fuel and food shortages. The fishermen reported being stranded at sea for 15 days, during which local residents offered them food and medical assistance.
Janakiram Vasupalli, president of the AP Mechanised Fishing Boats Union, expressed his gratitude to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for facilitating the safe return of the Indian fishermen.