Bangladesh, India to exchange 185 detained fishermen Sunday: Touhid

Bangladesh and India will exchange 185 fishermen detained in their respective countries on Sunday, foreign affairs adviser Md Touhid Hossain confirmed Thursday.   

“If everything (formalities) goes as per schedule, the exchange of the fishermen will be held on Sunday,” he told reporters while visiting the recently renovated DCAB (Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh) Lounge at the foreign ministry.

Foreign ministry official source said that India currently holds 90 Bangladeshi fishermen who were detained on different occasions while 95 Indian fishermen were being held in Bangladeshi prisons.

According to a report by the Indian news outlet The Economic Times, on December 10, the Indian Coast Guard detained two Bangladeshi trawlers, along with 78 crew members, on charges of fishing “illegally” in Indian waters.

Earlier, in September, 12 Bangladeshi fishermen were detained when their trawler sank in Indian waters.

Bangladesh Foreign Ministry’s official informed that six Indian trawlers entered Bangladesh water in September and October last, leading to the detention of 95 Indian sailors and the confiscation of their trawlers.

At the Lounge visit ceremony, the foreign adviser highlighted the role of media in doing responsible journalism while covering various foreign affairs issues.

Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin and DCAB outgoing President Nurul Islam Hasib spoke while newly elected president AKM Moinuddin was present along with the other DCAB members.