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The Bangladesh Navy has mentioned that it has detained 31 Indian fishermen, together with two fishing trawlers — FB Basanti and FB Jai Jagannath — for illegally getting into their territory.
The detained fishermen are residents of Kakdwip of South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, officers mentioned. In keeping with the Bangladesh Navy, these fishermen not solely entered their nation’s territory, but additionally tried fishing through the ongoing 22-day fishing ban of their nation aimed toward defending marine assets.
Lt Md Mosiul Islam, the commanding officer of BNS Shaheed Akhtar Uddin, on Wednesday had mentioned that overseas vessels have been detected on radar and captured after a chase. “When the trawlers tried to flee, BNS Shaheed Akhtar Uddin pursued and detained them inside Bangladesh’s maritime boundary,” he mentioned at a press convention at Payra Port.
“A complete of 31 Indian nationals have been on board the 2 vessels flying the Indian flag. These have been taken to Patuakhali, and the trawlers and fishermen have been handed over to Kolapara police for authorized motion,” he additional mentioned.
In the meantime, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA from Kakdwip, Manturam Pakhira, mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee referred to as him and enquired concerning the scenario. “All are very frightened. The chief minister mentioned that the state authorities will strive their greatest to assist the detained fishermen return to India,” he added.
Moreover, the West Bengal Fishermen Affiliation has as soon as once more issued a stern warning to its members to chorus from venturing past Indian territorial waters for fishing. Pleasure Prakash Haldar, the spokesperson for the affiliation, harassed on the necessity for strict compliance of the rules.
“It’s a regrettable incident… We have now repeatedly made it clear that we can’t be held accountable for anybody who’s apprehended whereas fishing in Bangladesh waters. Our affiliation has issued specific directions to fishermen to keep away from crossing the Indian border,” he mentioned.
Haldar mentioned the rule was carried out roughly 10 years in the past, and since then, round 350 to 400 fishermen have been detained by the Bangladeshi authorities. “Over the previous decade, between 350 and 400 fishermen have been arrested whereas fishing in Bangladeshi territory,” Haldar instructed The Indian Specific.
The boats of the 31 detained fishermen lack tools with fashionable know-how to find out its exact location, and inadvertently entered Bangladesh waters, a member of the affiliation mentioned.
“All trawlers and boats must be outfitted with GPS to keep away from such incidents. Navigation programs are important for secure and authorized fishing,” the affiliation member mentioned.
Fishermen have additionally expressed considerations over the dearth of bodily demarcation within the sea, not like land borders, stating that with out fashionable know-how, it may be difficult to find out the precise boundary.
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