India seeks consular access to 34 fishermen held by Bangladeshi authorities

Bangladesh detained fishermen and two trawlers, FB Jhor and FB Ma Magal Chandi, near Mongla port between July 14 and 15, according to sources.

Updated on: Jul 19, 2025, 05:12:21 IST

By Rezaul H Laskar

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

India has sought consular access to 34 Indian fishermen who were detained by Bangladeshi authorities this week on charges of crossing the maritime boundary, people familiar with the matter said on Friday.

Fishermen removed their fishing boats from the Arabian Sea at Worli-Koliwada jetty after the state issued an alert for heavy rain and storms. Mumbai, India, May 21, 2025. (Raju Shinde/HT Photo)

The fishermen and two fishing trawlers, FB Jhor and FB Ma Magal Chandi, were apprehended by Bangladeshi authorities near Mongla port during July 14-15,the people said.

The fishermen were accused of crossing the international Maritime boundary line and fishing in Bangladesh’s territorial waters. It could not immediately be ascertained where they were being held.

“As soon as information about the incident was received, our high commission in Dhaka took up the matter with Bangladeshi authorities through diplomatic channels, seeking immediate consular access,” one of the people cited above said.

“We are constantly pursuing the matter for facilitating the safe and early return of all the fishermen along with their boats,” the person said.

There are numerous instances every year of Indian fishermen being apprehended by the authorities of Pakistan and Sri Lanka for allegedly crossing the maritime boundary. Most fishing boats in India and neighbouring countries are not equipped with modern navigational aids and it is common for vessels from these countries to cross the maritime boundary.

Such instances are not as common between Indian and Bangladesh. However, relations between the two countries have been strained since the caretaker administration headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus assumed office in Dhaka following the collapse of the Sheikh Hasina government last August.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rezaul H Laskar
Rezaul Hasan Laskar is Foreign Editor with the Hindustan Times, which he joined in 2015. He began as a journalist in his hometown of Shillong in northeast India and has worked in newspapers and wire services over the years. He moved to New Delhi in 1997 and initially focused on defence, national security, Jammu and Kashmir and the northeast, while also working of foreign policy and international relations. He has been part of the media delegation accompanying PMs on foreign visits and has reported from destinations ranging from Tibet to Ukraine. Between 2007 and 2013, he was the Press Trust of India correspondent in Pakistan, one of only two Indian journalists allowed to report from the country. He extensively covered Pakistan’s domestic politics and the life of the common people, as well as the fallout of the 2008 Mumbai attacks on India-Pakistan relations and the subsequent trial in Pakistan of the suspects involved in the attack. As part of his reportage in Pakistan, he travelled the breadth of the country, from the Swat Valley to Balochistan. Reza’s first gig in journalism was writing a weekly music column, and music – especially classic rock – remains a keen interest. He is also a movie buff and a keen photographer.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.