519 Indian fishermen in Bangladesh safe custody

At least 519 fishermen along with 32 Indian fishing trawlers were taken into safe custody by the Coast Guard at Paira seaport in Kalapara of Patuakhali district yesterday afternoon. As the sea was turbulent on account of inclement weather, the Coast Guard personnel took the fishermen to Paira seaport from the deep sea area where they had been catching fish after crossing the border into Bangladeshi waters on Sunday noon. The Coast Guard later kept them in custody. The Commander of the Paira Seaport Coast Guard contingent, Rezaul Karim, said, “The names of the trawlers and fishermen are being listed. As there are many trawlers, it is time-consuming,” he said. “The Coast Guard is also investigating whether there are any illegal items in the trawlers.”

The assistant commissioner (land) of Kalapara, Anup Kumar Das, said, “The fishermen are inhabitants of West Bengal of India. All of them speak Bangla.’ Kalapara upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Munibar Rahman said because of adverse weather conditions, the Indian fishermen had crossed the Bangladeshi water borderline seeking safety.

But several sources at Mahipur fish port alleged that because of the restrictions on fishing in the sea, the Bangladeshi fishermen did not go to sea to catch fish, but Indian fishermen did not stop there. Indian trawlers roam around the Bangladeshi water borderline everyday, netting fish. “If the Bangladeshi fishermen violate the waters of India, they have to return to the country after months in jail. But for the Indian fishermen, there is no punishment for illegal infiltration into our country.”

They also complained that international trafficking was active in the sea and emphasised the need to investigate the matter. Already several major shipments of clothing and drugs have been nabbed by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Coast Guard, they pointed out.

 

 

519 Indian fishermen in Bangladesh safe custody

At least 519 fishermen along with 32 Indian fishing trawlers were taken into safe custody by the Coast Guard at Paira seaport in Kalapara of Patuakhali district yesterday afternoon. As the sea was turbulent on account of inclement weather, the Coast Guard personnel took the fishermen to Paira seaport from the deep sea area where they had been catching fish after crossing the border into Bangladeshi waters on Sunday noon. The Coast Guard later kept them in custody. The Commander of the Paira Seaport Coast Guard contingent, Rezaul Karim, said, The names of the trawlers and fishermen are being listed. As there are many trawlers, it is time-consuming, he said. The Coast Guard is also investigating whether there are any illegal items in the trawlers. The assistant commissioner (land) of Kalapara, Anup Kumar Das, said, The fishermen are inhabitants of West Bengal of India. All of them speak Bangla. Kalapara upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Munibar Rahman said because of adverse weather conditions, the Indian fishermen had crossed the Bangladeshi water borderline seeking safety. But several sources at Mahipur fish port alleged that because of the restrictions on fishing in the sea, the Bangladeshi fishermen did not go to sea to catch fish, but Indian fishermen did not stop there. Indian trawlers roam around the Bangladeshi water borderline everyday, netting fish. If the Bangladeshi fishermen violate the waters of India, they have to return to the country after months in jail. But for the Indian fishermen, there is no punishment for illegal infiltration into our country. They also complained that international trafficking was active in the sea and emphasised the need to investigate the matter. Already several major shipments of clothing and drugs have been nabbed by the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Coast Guard, they pointed out.