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Kolkata, October 19 (IANS) Fourteen fishermen from West Bengal have been detained by the Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) after they entered international waters. Police gave this information on Sunday.
According to police sources, all the fishermen are residents of Kultali in South 24 Parganas district. They had gone to sea on October 13 in a trawler named ‘FB Shuvojatra’.
Last Saturday the trawler’s engine broke down in the deep sea. The trawler then drifted into Bangladeshi waters in rough seas. After crossing the international border, the coast guard and the army of the neighboring country seized the trawler.
“We have learned that 14 fishermen from Kultali had ventured into Bangladeshi waters after their trawler broke down. The family members have been informed. We have shared the information with the appropriate authorities so that they can negotiate with the authorities of the neighboring country for their release,” said a senior official of South 24 Parganas district.
Family members of the fishermen learned about the detention and are finding it difficult to contact them as they are being held in Bangladesh. As a result, Kultali village is in a state of worry during the festive season. The fishermen’s organization has appealed to the governments of both the countries to immediately intervene so that the fishermen can be brought back to the country. According to administration sources, inquiries are being made.
Last month, around 13 Bangladeshi fishermen illegally intruded along the coastal borders in West Bengal, prompting the state and central coastal security agencies to step up security and surveillance in the sensitive Sundarbans areas.
The Indian Coast Guard had intercepted a Bangladeshi trawler, carrying 13 fishermen, which had crossed the maritime boundary and entered Indian waters.
Due to the porous and riverine international border between India and Bangladesh, Bangladeshi boats and trawlers frequently enter Indian waters.
–IANS
SH/VD