NewsGate Press Network

India has agreed to set free 95 arrested fishermen of Bangladesh in exchange  of a reciprocal release of 90 Indian fishermen who were arrested in the last two-three months.

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) late on Thursday evening (2 January 2025), the exchange of arrested fishermen will take place in the high seas on 5th of January 2025 and will be executed by Coast Guard forces from both the countries.

The MEA statement stated – ‘in recent months, several Indian fishermen have been arrested by Bangladesh authorities when they happened to inadvertently cross the International Maritime Boundary Line and entered Bangladesh waters. Several Bangladesh fishermen have also been apprehended by Indian authorities in similar circumstances.

The Government of India attaches the highest importance to the safety, security and welfare of Indian fishermen.  To this end, it has worked assiduously to secure the release of our fishermen from Bangladesh custody.’

The External Affairs ministry statement added that – ‘Earlier today, 95 Indian fishermen were handed over by Bangladesh authorities to the Bangladesh Coast Guard for handing over to the Indian Coast Guard on January 5, 2025.

On the same day, 90 Bangladesh fishermen will also be released in a mutual release and repatriation operation that will be concluded at sea between the respective Coast Guard authorities.

The mutual exchange of fishermen and their vessels has been worked out keeping in mind the primarily humanitarian and livelihood concerns of fishing communities on both sides,’ the MEA release said.