14 Indian fishermen detained over illegal fishing in Bay

The Bangladesh Navy has detained 14 Indian fishermen along with a fishing trawler named FB Subhajatra for fishing illegally within Bangladesh’s maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal.

The arrest was made on Saturday morning when the Navy ship BNS Shaheed Akhtar Uddin was patrolling the Bangladesh territorial waters.

Later in the evening, the detained fishermen and the seized trawler were handed over to Mongla Police Station.

Confirming the incident, Mongla Upazila Fisheries Officer Md Zahidul Islam said the Indian boat was captured from the fairway area of Bangladesh’s maritime zone.

“The trawler was found carrying a large quantity of hilsa and other marine fish species. The seized fish will be auctioned and the proceeds will be deposited into the government treasury,” he added.

Mongla Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Anisur Rahman said a case will be filed against the detained fishermen on charges of illegally crossing into Bangladesh’s maritime boundary. “They will be sent to jail through the Bagerhat court on Sunday,” he added.

Earlier, on July 14 and August 3 this year, the Bangladesh Navy detained three Indian fishing boats on two separate occasions for similar violations within Bangladesh waters.

JU/NSA