Upon completion of the formal procedures, Bangladeshi fishermen and crew members along with two fishing vessels have sailed towards Chattogram under the supervision of the Bangladesh Coast Guard. They are expected to arrive in Chattogram this afternoon. Family members of the repatriated fishermen and crew would receive them upon their arrival, marking the conclusion of the repatriation process. The repatriation process is being carried out with the collaboration of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Bangladesh Coast Guard, Bangladesh Police, Border Guard Bangladesh, local administration, and other relevant agencies. The reciprocal repatriation of 90 Bangladeshi fishermen/crew detained in India and 95 Indian fishermen/crew detained in Bangladesh was completed on Sunday. The process started at around 12pm, near the western International Maritime Boundary Line - Bangladesh Coast Guard received 90 Bangladeshi fishermen/crew members and handed over 95 Indian fishermen/crew members to the Indian Coast Guard. Read: India, Bangladesh set to exchange apprehended fishermen in humanitarian repatriation effort Simultaneously, the exchange of detained vessels was also completed. Two Bangladeshi fishing vessels, "FV Laila-2" and "FV Meghna-5" were returned to Bangladesh, while six Indian fishing boats were returned to India. The handover process was successfully completed through Bangladesh Coast Guard in the presence of the representatives from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department of Fisheries, and Border Guard Bangladesh, the government of Bangladesh said.

The reciprocal repatriation of 95 Indian fishermen/crew detained in Bangladesh and 90 Bangladeshi fishermen or crew detained in India began on Thursday. The process is expected to be completed on January 5. After the handing over on January 5 at the International Maritime Border, the Bangladeshi fishermen or crew, along with their fishing vessels, are expected to return to Chattogram in the afternoon of January 6. “If everything (formalities) goes as per schedule, the exchanges will take place on Sunday,” Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain told reporters while visiting the recently renovated DCAB (Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh) Lounge at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dhaka's ties with Delhi won’t get stuck on single issue: Foreign Adviser Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin, Secretary (East) Dr Md Nazrul Islam, outgoing DCAB President Nurul Islam Hasib, newly elected President AKM Moinuddin, and DCAB members were present. Bangladesh Coast Guard has initiated the process of handing over 95 Indian fishermen/crew members to the Indian Coast Guard and receiving 90 Bangladeshi fishermen/crew members. Furthermore, two Bangladeshi fishing vessels detained in India and six Indian fishing boats detained in Bangladesh will also be exchanged between the two Coast Guards. This repatriation process is being facilitated through the joint efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Shipping, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Bangladesh Coast Guard, Bangladesh Police, local administration, and other relevant agencies. Bangladeshi authorities detained a total of 95 Indian fishermen and six fishing boats inside Bangladesh Waters during October and November 2024. On Thursday, the 95 Indian fishermen/crew members, who were held in Bagerhat and Patuakhali District Jails, were released. On the other hand, near the international maritime boundary, a total of 78 Bangladeshi fishermen/crew aboard two fishing vessels, FV Laila-2 and FV Meghna-5 were detained by Indian authorities on December 9, 2024. Dhaka discusses with UN modalities for int'l conference on Rohingya crisis Twelve Bangladeshi fishermen/crew members who were detained by Indian authorities on September 12, 2024, after their fishing boat FB Kaushik sank due to adverse weather conditions, have already been released from jails. The 78 Bangladeshi fishermen/crew members are held in Paradeep, Odisha, India under the supervision of Indian Coast Guard while 12 Bangladeshi fishermen are held in Kakdwip, West Bengal, India. At the Lounge visit ceremony, the Foreign Adviser highlighted the role of media in doing responsible journalism while covering various foreign affairs issues. The Foreign Adviser and Foreign Secretary congratulated the newly elected DCAB Executive Committee members while outgoing President Hasib thanked the MoFA for their support.

Six  Bangladeshi fishermen returned home on Saturday after spending nine months in jail in India.  After all the immigration formalities, the Indian police handed them to Bangladesh authorities through  Benapole Port Police Station in the morning.   The returnees are Rahmat Ullah, 45, son of Siddique Mia of Patuakhali district, Golam Rafi, 34, son of Abdul Manik of Patuakhali district, Jamal Hossain, 56, son of Mannan, Masum Billah, 39, son of Abdul Jalil, Hossain, 38, son of Nazir Hossain, Yasin, 31, son of Abdur Rahman and Rashida Begum, 34, daughter of Shafiuddin Kazi of Dinajpur district. Imtiaz Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Benapole Immigration Checkpost, said the fishermen were detained by the Indian Coast Guard 10 months ago while they were fishing in the sea.   Protest of 7 murder: Strike disrupts operations at Baghabari Port Later, at one stage of the high-level exchange of letters between the two countries, they returned to the country through special travel permits issued by the Indian government, he added. Benapole Port Police Station Officer-in-Charge Rasel Mia said the returnees were handed over to the non-government NGO Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association after formalities of the police station. Rekha Biswas, coordinator of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers' Association, said they crossed the border and entered the Indian side 10 months ago while fishing in the sea. 13 Bangladeshis detained by India’s BSF across Sylhet border, locals say At that time, the Indian Coast Guard detained them and handed them over to the court. The court sentenced them to nine months' imprisonment and sent them to Alipur jai, she said. The National Women Lawyers' Association has brought them back to the country with legal aid. They will be handed over to their families after informing their families in Jashore, she added.

Seventy-nine Bangladeshi fishermen and sailors, who were captured by the Indian Coast Guard while fishing on Monday, are yet to be released, leaving family members concerned. Sources said the Indian Coast Guard took away the Bangladeshis along with the two fishing trawlers they were on - FV Meghna-5 and FV Laila-2 - from the Khulna region of the Bay of Bengal, where they were fishing on Monday afternoon. The owners of the two vessels said they were trying to get back the trawlers, but unable to establish any contact with India. Mintu Kumar Saha, chief commercial official of Laila Group, said they came to know that the trawlers were being taken towards the Indian coastal state of Odisha, but "didn’t know why the trawlers and fishermen were captured despite fishing in Bangladeshi maritime territory only". Md Abdus Sattar, director (maritime) at maritime fisheries office, said they, including Coast Guard and Navy, have started activities to bring back the trawlers with everyone on them as soon as possible. Read: Arakan Army returns 20 Bangladeshi fishermen taken from Naf River Sailors’ organizations and trawlers’ owners demanded immediate release of the captured fishermen and hoped that the government would take measures in this regard. Throughout Monday and much of Tuesday, Indian media gave this story a total pass. It was only around Tuesday evening that it started appearing on some outlets, after PTI reported on the basis of a Coast Guard statement. Not surprisingly, the Indian side's version is significantly different. Rather, it said the vessels -- "FV Laila-2 and FV Meghna-5, were found engaged in unauthorised fishing activities in Indian waters near the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), violating the international maritime laws and bilateral agreements." It also said approximately 160 tonnes of fish were found in the two vessels. Subsequently, the vessels and the crew members were taken to Paradip in Odisha, as some have suspected, for what it called "further investigation". The two vessels have also been booked under the Maritime Zones of India Act, 1981, says the PTI report. Read more: Arakan Army capture 20 Bangladeshi fishermen from Naf River Another minor difference is that Bangladesh is saying 79 detained, but India acknowledges only 78, with 41 from FV Laila-2 and 37 on FV Meghna-5.  

Local communities, including fishermen, Bawal (wood collectors), and Mowal (honey collectors), who rely on the Sundarbans for their livelihoods, are concerned about a three-month ban on all activities in the forest starting today (June 01, 2024). These communities returned home a few weeks ago due to the cyclonic storm Remal, and the forest department has since restricted re-entry into the Sundarbans. With the ban in place, they face a period without income. Forest Dept declares Sundarbans closed to visitors for 3 months The local administration has assured the affected communities of food assistance through the Fisheries Department. Fishermen have expressed their worries, stating their families depend on collecting fish, crabs, and honey in the Sundarbans. With their limited catch prior to returning home due to the storm, many have no savings to sustain them through the ban period. The three-month ban on fishing and tourism in the Sundarbans, effective from June 1 to August 31, aims to provide a safe breeding environment for fish and wild animals. The movement of all vessels, including boats and fishing trawlers, is prohibited, along with the entry of fishermen and honey collectors. Local and foreign tourists are also barred from entering the forest during this time. AKM Iqbal Hossain Chowdhury, Assistant Forest Conservator of the West Sundarbans, explained that June to August is the primary breeding season for fish in the region's rivers and canals. Cyclone Remal: 15 more dead deer recovered from Sundarbans During these three months, most fish release eggs, and it is also the breeding season for many wild animals. Restricting access helps protect biodiversity and wildlife, he said. The damage caused by Cyclone Remal to the forest’s biodiversity and wildlife is expected to recover more quickly with the ban in place. Abu Naser Mohsin Hossain, a forest official of the Sundarbans West Division, confirmed that entry into the Sundarbans will resume on September 1. Since 2019, the Integrated Resource Management Plan (IRMP) has recommended closing the Sundarbans' rivers and canals to fishing from July 1 to August 31 annually. In 2021, this restriction was extended to three months, starting June 1, in coordination with the Fisheries Department. The Sundarbans is home to about 289 species of animals, including 42 species of mammals, 35 species of reptiles, 8 species of amphibians, and 219 species of aquatic animals. Cyclone Remal: Animal death toll in Sundarbans rises to 100 If boats ply the rivers and canals, it disrupts the fish during their egg-laying period, so all types of boats are banned, explained Mihir Kumar Doe, Khulna Forest Conservator. He noted that this year's ban follows the same pattern as previous years. The local communities remain hopeful that the promised assistance will help them navigate through this challenging period.

A total of 10,000 fishermen from coastal areas are expected to gather at Dublar Char, popularly known as “Shutki Polli” or Dried Fish Village, as dried fish processing season kicked off. Every year, several thousand fishermen and hired hands flock to the area to catch fish and make shutki (dried fish). According to the forest department, this year, the authorities concerned have given permission to erect 108 makeshift houses and 78 depots for accommodation of fishermen and preservation of dried fish. Bagerhat's Dublar Char abuzz as fish drying season begins The fishermen will catch fish using 1500 trawlers in the Sundarbans. They will process the fish and keep those under the sun for drying. Dublar Char is already buzzing with workers and traders after the authorities issued permits to fishermen to catch fish. Thousands of Dublar Char fishermen take oath together with PM on Victory Day Last year, the government earned Tk 6 crore revenue from Dublar Char and this year, a Tk 7 crore target has been set. Different species of fish including Loitta, Faissa, Koral, Pomfret, Chhuri, Tuna and many more are being processed at Dublar Char. The demand of dried fish from the area is high as they are processed without using chemicals and formalin. Dublar Char comes alive as Sutki fish season gets underway Rabiul Islam, a fisherman from Rampal upazila, said he came to Dublar Char on Friday and spent a busy day making makeshift houses with bamboo, polythene and hogla (long dry grass used for sheds). Shahid Mallik, president of Matsyajibi Samity, said thousands of fishermen have already reached the area while many went to the sea to catch fish. Dilip Majumdar, officer-in-charge of Alorkol camp, said the fishermen are busy erecting makeshift houses and it takes two to three days to complete. Some fishermen were busy processing their catch under the open sky, he said. Rana Deb, assistant forest conservator of Sundarbans East zone, said the dried fish processing season began on November 3 and will continue till March 31, next year. The fishermen will live in Alorkol, Majherkella, Narikelbaria and Shelar Char for five months. Sheikh Mahbub Hasan, assistant conservator of Forests under Sharankhola Range, said the forest department has been asked to remain vigilant so that no one in the guise of fishermen can commit crimes on Dublar Char.  

The two-month ban on hilsa fishing — in the 70 km Padma-Meghna sanctuary area in Chandpur — imposed by the government to protect “jatka” (hilsa fry), will end at 12am tonight. With the ban lifted, fishermen are preparing to resume hilsa fishing. Chandpur district has around 44,000 registered fishermen, and they will start fishing from Shatanal of Matlab Uttar upazila to Charbhairavi of Haimchar upazila.  However, fishermen have complained about the full implementation of the ban. Also Read: 2-month ban on Hilsa fishing to end Sunday midnight Majority of locals in Chandpur’s Padma-Meghna sanctuary area earn their living through fishing and farming. After being unemployed for two months, fishermen have repaired their boats and nets in preparation for the resumption of fishing. Fishermen were seen busy repairing nets and boats in different areas of the district.  Some people come from different parts of the district just to repair nets at this time. However, fishermen fear that they will not get the expected amount of fish because fishermen from Munshiganj, Mohanpur, and Shariatpur areas kept catching jatka.  The fishing ban was not implemented properly, said Bahria area fisherman Shahjahan Khan.  Law enforcement needs to be tougher so that no fisherman can go to the river, he said. Also Read: 29 fishermen punished in Chandpur for violating ban on catching Hilsa The District Fisheries Officer, Golam Mehedi Hasan, said that the district and upazila task force continued to make every effort to implement the two-month ban to protect the national resource hilsa.  A total of 371 people were jailed from March 1 to April 28 for violating the law and were sentenced to various terms. With a view to boost the production of hilsa, the government imposed the two-month ban on hilsa catching, selling, hoarding and transporting from March 1 till April 30. The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock allocated 40 kg of rice for each registered fisherman during this ban period. Hilsa has the highest contribution to the country's fish production as the single fish species. Every year, the government imposes a two-month ban on catching, selling, hoarding and transporting hilsa to boost production.  

At least sixteen policemen were injured in an attack by a group of fishermen in the Meghna river on Friday evening. Bikash Chandra Dey, in charge of Hizla River Police Unit, is among the injured. They are now receiving treatment at a local hospital, said Sayed Hossain, duty officer of Hizla River Police Unit. Hizla upazila executive officer Mohammad Tarek Hawladar, said a team, including river police, conducted a drive in the Meghna river sanctuary in Hizla upazila this evening. While the law enforcers tried to lift a net in the river, the fishermen, who were engaged in netting fish, attacked them, leaving 16 cops injured, the officer said. Police had to open fire on eight rounds of bullets to bring the situation under control. Action will be taken against those involved in the attack, said Yunus Miah, officer-in-charge of Hizla Police Station.  

Coast Guard recovered the bodies of two fishermen from the Bay of Bengal Tuesday and Wednesday almost a week after a fishing boat carrying them capsized when a hole appeared in the vessel and water started gushing into it. The deceased were identified as Yusuf, 25, and Bayezid, 20, Barguna's Patharghata. Kazi Shaminul Bari, Coast Guard Kachikhali Contingent commander, said the duo started sleeping on the boat after casting their net to catch fish in the Bay on January 5. "They went missing after their fishing boat sank." The Coast Guard personnel had been carrying out rescue operations to find the missing fishermen in the Bay and several areas of the Sundarbans since January 6, he said. Although the fishing boat was salvaged from the Bay on the following day, floating bodies of Yusuf and Bayezid were found on Tuesday night and Wednesday morning from the sea, Shaminul said. Md Ikram Hossain, officer-in-charge of Sharankhola Police Station, said the bodies were handed over to their families after the completion of legal procedures. Read more: 13 trawlers sink in Bay in Cox’s Bazar

The Forest Department has detained 16 fishermen from the Sundarbans for catching Parshe (mullet) fries, during its breeding period from November-January, from the river and canals defying a ban. A team of Forest Department (West) led by Zahirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Nilkomol Patrol Outpost, detained the fishermen around 4:30am on Thursday during a drive at the Bangabandhur Char area, said Divisional Forest Officer of Sundarbans West Forest Division Abu Naser Mohsin Hossain. They also seized two fishing boats, he added. "A case has been filed under the Forest Act; the fishermen have been sent to Koyra Upazila Senior Judicial Magistrate Court." Read more: 11 kidnapped fishermen rescued in Sundarbans: Police Fishermen of Shyamnagar, Koyra, Paikgacha, and Dakop surrounding the Sundarbans are using illegal nets to catch fish fries. The fishermen illegally catch a large number of fish fries from the Sundarbans' Alor Kol, Dublar Char, Batlurchar, Chachanangla, Poshur, Agun Jala, Kalir Char, Gera Chalki, Bajbaja, Hanshoraj, Andarmanik, Dhangmari; Chichkhali and Majjat rivers. Due to the use of monofilament nets, Parshe fish fries and different species of fish are being killed. Around 20-25 groups of 8-10 fishermen on engine-driven fishing boats are using 200-300-metre long and 40-50-metre wide nets to catch a maund of fish fries of different species in each haul every day. Also, some forest officials tip the fishermen off when their senior officials prepare for conducting a drive in the Sundarbans. Next, the fishermen hide in the forest. And when the drive is over they resume their illegal fishing. Read more: 26 rescued Bangladeshi fishermen return from India Poshur River Waterkeeper Coordinator Md Nur Alam Sheikh said a group of money lenders pay low-income fishermen a lot of money in advance to send them to the Sundarbans to make extra profit with fish fries. Some forest officials and employees are also cooperating with them in exchange for a large amount of money, he added.