December 12, 2024
DHAKA – The two Bangladeshi fishing trawlers along with 78 crew detained by the Indian Coast Guard Monday morning on charges of fishing illegally in Indian waters were taken to Paradip port in Odisha.
Indian Coast Guard said this via social media while the trawlers’ owning firms also confirmed the matter.
Captains of both the trawlers made contact with the officials of the owning firms this afternoon and informed them that the Indian Marine Police took all the crew to its office for medical check-ups this morning and were brought back to the trawlers later in the afternoon, confirmed the owners.
On Tuesday night, Indian Coast Guard on Facebook and X stated that the two fishing trawlers were apprehended for unauthorised fishing in Indian waters.
“In a swift operation, Indian Coast Guard apprehended two Bangladeshi fishing trawlers along with 78 crew for unauthorised fishing in Indian waters. The vessels have been brought to Paradip for legal proceedings,” said the posts.
Officials of Dhaka-based SR Fishing Ltd, owning firm of FV Layla 2, today said one of their crewmen returned from the sea earlier, while 41 crew remained on the boat.
Chattogram-based C&A Agro Ltd, owning firm of FV Meghna 5, said currently there are 37 crew on board.
Officials of both the firms contacted relevant authorities in Bangladesh to take steps for the safe return of the 78 crew of the two trawlers.
Earlier, officials of the firms said the two trawlers were apprehended by the Indian Coast Guard while fishing in the Bangladesh waters in the Bay of Bengal near Heron Point in Khulna around 11:00am on Monday.
Bangladesh Marine Fisheries Association (BMFA) Office Secretary Abid Hussain today told The Daily Star that while fishing at the Swatch of No Ground area on early hours Monday, the two trawlers mistakenly entered into the Indian waters.
Terming such mistake as “nautical error”, Hussain said fishing trawlers of the both countries make such mistakes sometimes.
Later, the crewmen realised their mistake and came back to Bangladesh territory while the Indian Coast Guard detained them the following morning from inside Bangladesh water, he said.
Mintu Shaha, chief finance officer (CFO) of SR Fishing, echoed the same.
He said the two trawlers crossed the maritime border due to strong currents sometimes after Monday midnight and the Indian Coast Guard members stopped them, got onboard and warned them.
Later, the two trawlers retreated back to Bangladesh waters.
He said FV Layla 2 Captain Rajib Chandra Shil made contact with them and informed that the crewmen were taken to their office for medical checkup.
Mentioning that anxious family members kept asking the firms for quick and safe return of the crew, Mintu said the relevant authorities have been engaged and mulling how to bring back the fishermen.
When contacted, C&A Agro Ltd Executive Director Suman Sen said captain of FV Meghna 5 Rahul Biswas made contact with crewmen of the firm’s another trawler this morning and informed that all the crewmen were okay.
Sources said Bangladesh foreign ministry was taking necessary steps for safe return of the two trawlers and their crew.