Fourteen West Bengal Fishermen Detained by Bangladesh After Trawler Drifts Into International Waters | India News

14 fishermen from West Bengal were detained by the Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) after they ventured into international waters, police said on Sunday.

According to police sources, all the fishermen are residents of Kultali in South 24 Parganas district. They set sail on October 13 with the trawler named ‘FB Shuvojatra’.

Last Saturday, the engine of the trawler broke down in the deep sea. The trawler then drifted into Bangladeshi waters in rough seas. Coast Guard and neighboring country’s army seize trawler after crossing international border

“We learned that 14 fishermen from Kultali ventured into Bangladeshi waters after their trawler broke down. Their family members have been informed. We have shared the information with the authorities concerned so that they can approach officials of the neighboring country for their release,” said a senior official from South 24 Parganas district.

Family members of the fishermen learned about the detention and are having difficulty contacting them as they are being held in Bangladesh. As a result, Kultalı village experiences anxiety during the holiday period. The fishermen’s organization called for urgent intervention from the governments of the two countries so that the fishermen can be brought back to the country. According to information obtained from management sources, the investigation continues.

Last month, around 13 Bangladeshi fishermen illegally infiltrated coastal borders in West Bengal, prompting state and central coast guard agencies to step up security and surveillance in sensitive Sunderbans areas.

The Indian Coast Guard had arrested a Bangladeshi trawler with 13 fishermen on board, which entered Indian waters after crossing the maritime border.

Due to the porous and riverine international border between India and Bangladesh, Bangladeshi boats and trawlers often venture into Indian waters.