MEA Announces Fishermen Repatriation Between India & Bangladesh on Jan 5

New Delhi: On January 5, India and Bangladesh will release and repatriate fishermen in a major diplomatic gesture. The Ministry of External Affairs provided this information on Thursday.

According to an official, Bangladeshi authorities transferred 95 Indian fishermen to the Bangladesh Coast Guard, who will hand them over to the Indian Coast Guard on January 5, 2025. Simultaneously, 90 Bangladeshi fishermen are set to be released as part of a mutual repatriation operation between the two countries’ Coast Guards, which will take place at sea.

According to the MEA, officials in Bangladesh have detained a number of Indian fishermen in recent months after they unintentionally crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line and entered Bangladeshi seas.
As per their statement, Indian officials have also detained a number of fishermen from Bangladesh under similar conditions.

The statement further said that the Government of India prioritizes the safety, security, and well-being of Indian fishermen and has made dedicated efforts to ensure their release from custody in Bangladesh.

The Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that the mutual exchange of fishermen and their vessels has been arranged with a focus on addressing the humanitarian and livelihood concerns of fishing communities in both countries.

On Thursday, Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Thursday accused West Bengal of becoming a “nursery” for Bangladeshi infiltrators, intensifying his criticism of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Singh alleged that the state government initially welcomed Bangladeshis with open arms and later, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee exploited the issue for political purposes.

He claimed that the government laid a “red carpet” for infiltrators and criticized Mamata Banerjee for allegedly stating that Bangladeshis could not be removed as long as she was in power. Singh demanded an apology from her, accusing the TMC of encouraging infiltration and compromising the state's security and integrity.

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