The Indian Coast Guard has released photos of two Bangladeshi trawlers, FV Laila-2 and FB Meghna-5, along with 78 sailors detained for allegedly fishing in Indian waters.
Three related photos were shared on the Indian Coast Guard's official Facebook page and X (formerly Twitter) account on Tuesday night.
According to the Coast Guard's post, the sailors and their vessels were detained during an operation near Para Island.
The photos show the sailors kneeling on the deck of a vessel with their hands behind their heads, guarded by Indian Coast Guard personnel.
Another photo shows the two Bangladeshi trawlers at sea, while a third image depicts the vessels being brought to a jetty.
The FV Laila-2 belongs to SR Fishing, while the FB Meghna-5 is owned by C&F Agro Limited.
Suman Sen, executive director of C&F Agro Limited, told Prothom Alo: “On Monday morning, two trawlers were fishing within one nautical mile of Bangladesh’s territorial waters. The Indian Coast Guard intercepted them. After the Coast Guard confirmed the seizure, we informed the relevant authorities in Bangladesh to recover the vessels through legal procedures.”
Commodore Mohammad Maqsood Alam, director general of the Directorate of Shipping, said on Tuesday: “Government agencies, including the Bangladesh Coast Guard, have contacted Indian authorities. Measures are being taken to rescue the trawlers. The detained sailors are reportedly in good condition.”
Efforts to resolve the situation are ongoing, with authorities on both sides expected to engage in diplomatic and legal channels.
The Indian Coast Guard reportedly seized two Bangladeshi fishing trawlers along with 79 sailors near the maritime boundary between the two countries.
According to vessel owners and the Department of Shipping, the incident occurred on Monday afternoon in the Hiron Point area of Khulna.
