Detained Indian fishermen sent to jail

A Bangladeshi court in southern Bagerhat district on Wednesday sent 15 detained Indian fishermen to jail on charges of illegal fishing after intruding into Bangladesh maritime territory.

The detainees are Babul Sarkar, 42, Kartik Das, 45, Sonaram Das, 51, Rajesh Das, 33, Bholanath Das, 60, Basudev Das, 30, Pilton Das, 23, Uttam Das, 35, Mintu Das, 25, Bimol Das, 48, Kiron Das, 64, Surjo Das, 25, Nepal Das, 29, Uttam Das, 26 and Ananda Das, 50. According to police, they all hail from different villages in Kakdwip thana of West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, reports United News of Bangladesh.

After the detainees were produced at the Judicial Magistrate Court, the judge sent them to the district jail.

Iqbal Bahar Chowdhury, officer-in-charge of Mongla police station said BNS Nishan seized a fishing trawler called Ma Laxmi from the Fair Buoy area of the Bay of Bengal on Monday evening during a routine patrol.

The 15 Indian fishermen were caught fishing 90 nautical miles from the Mongla Port.

Abul Manzur, Petty Officer of Bangladesh Navy, filed a case against the Indian fishermen.

The detained fishermen were transferred to the Mongla police station on Tuesday evening, the OC added.

Frequent illegal entry

Bangladeshi fishermen have been alleging for years against frequent intrusion of Indian fishermen into Bangladeshi territory in the Bay of Bengal with big size fishing boats.

On July 7 this year Bangladesh Coast Guard detained over 519 Indian fishermen along with 32 fishing trawlers in the coastal areas of southern Patuakhali district near under-construction mega Paira seaport project on charge of intruding into Bangladesh.

In most cases, however, Indian fishermen claim stormy weather for illegally entering into Bangladeshi territory and violating maritime boundary.

It is also alleged that even in restriction period Indian fishermen do not stop fishing intruding into Bangladeshi territory.

Indian trawlers roam around the Bangladeshi water borderline almost regularly and net fish.

If the Bangladeshi fishermen violate the waters of India even in rough weather, they have to return to the country after months in jail.

Kamruzzaman