34 Indian fishermen detained by Bangladesh authorities: rights group appeals for immediate release

By A Representative

A prominent human rights group has appealed to both the Indian and Bangladeshi governments for the immediate release of 34 Indian fishermen who were detained by Bangladeshi authorities on July 15. The fishermen were taken into custody by the Bangladesh Navy and Mongla Police after their trawlers allegedly strayed into Bangladeshi waters.

According to a letter sent by Kirity Roy, Secretary of Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM) and National Convenor of the Programme Against Custodial Torture and Impunity (PACTI), the two seized vessels — FB JHOR and FB MANGALCHANDI 38 — had departed from Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. The fishermen reportedly lost their navigational route due to heavy rainfall and a malfunction in their GPS systems, leading to an unintentional crossing into Bangladesh's maritime zone.

The fishermen have been charged under Bangladesh’s Marine Fisheries Act, 2020, and are currently being held at Mongla Port, with legal proceedings underway in the Bagerhat district court under Mongla Police Station Case No. 21 dated July 15, 2025.

Calling the arrests "extremely disheartening," the rights group underscored the vulnerability of poor and marginalized fisherfolk — mostly from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and OBC Muslim communities — who are frequently caught in cross-border maritime disputes. While acknowledging the significance of upholding maritime laws, the appeal urged both governments to treat such incidents with compassion, especially when violations are unintentional and weather-induced.

Roy referenced the India–Bangladesh Extradition Treaty of 2013 as a potential framework for resolving the matter through bilateral cooperation. The letter urged India’s External Affairs and Home Ministries to initiate urgent diplomatic dialogue for the “unconditional release” of the detained fishermen.

The incident has drawn attention in regional media, including coverage by leading Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo.

Human rights advocates are hopeful that both nations will act swiftly to resolve the issue, emphasizing that the spirit of India-Bangladesh relations should rest on humanitarian values and mutual understanding.

“We sincerely hope this issue will be addressed with urgency and justice,” the letter concluded.

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