Nineteen fishermen from Koralia village in Dakshin Dighaldi union of Bhola Sadar upazila have been missing for the past nine days after venturing into the Bay of Bengal for fishing.

They are Md. Safizal Bepari, Md. Shahe Alam, Chidu Munshi, Rajib Chandra Das, Md. Akhter Hossain, Md. Mintu Howlader, Md. Farid, Md. Alamgir, Md. Yunus, Md. Babul Sardar, Md. Nirab Hossain, Md. Ismail, Md. Shahe Alam Howlader, Gautam Chandra Das, Md. Zakir, Md. Chhagir Sikder, Md. Tutul, and Md. Shahidul Islam — all residents of Koralia village.

Families, however, are suspecting that they may have been detained in India.

According to relatives, the fishermen set out on the afternoon of September 5 following reports of a large hilsa catch in the sea. The last contact with their families was on September 12. Since then, they have not returned, and all communication has ceased.

Family members claim the fishermen may have unknowingly crossed into Indian waters near the Sundarbans' protected area, where they were allegedly detained by Indian authorities along with their boat, nets, and catch.

Reports from an India-based YouTube news outlet later claimed that the fishermen were arrested and sent to jail.

A general diary (GD) was filed with Bhola Sadar Police Station on Thursday (September 18) on behalf of the families, listing all 19 fishermen as missing.

Sheikh Al Mamun, Secretary of the District Small Fishermen's Association, said they are collecting detailed information about the missing fishermen to submit to the authorities, so that the Home Ministry can take swift action to bring them back.

The Bhola District Fisheries Officer-in-Charge assured that their department will provide full support in resolving the issue and assisting the affected families.