Bangladesh Detains 8 Indian Fishermen: Diplomatic Efforts Underway for Their Release

A special legal team from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka is currently providing assistance for the release of eight fishermen from Andhra Pradesh who have been detained by Bangladesh authorities.

The Bangladesh Navy has taken into custody eight fishermen from Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh after their vessel allegedly entered Bangladesh's territorial waters, according to an official statement released by the state government on Thursday.

In response to this situation, the Andhra Pradesh government has reached out to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) through the Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in New Delhi to facilitate the fishermen's release.

The official release stated, "Eight fishermen from Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh are currently in the custody of the Bangladesh Navy after their vessel reportedly crossed into that country's waters."

Legal proceedings have commenced in Bangladesh with the filing of a charge sheet against the detained fishermen. This development has prompted the Andhra Pradesh government to appeal to the Bangladesh Embassy, seeking cooperation to maintain consistent communication between the fishermen and their families.

Union Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu has contacted External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, requesting urgent measures to ensure the swift return of the fishermen to India.

Andhra Pradesh Non-Resident Indian (NRI) Empowerment Minister Kondapalli Srinivas is actively monitoring the situation and exploring options for satellite communication to establish contact with the detained fishermen.

Local district officials have met with the families of the arrested fishermen in Visakhapatnam to brief them on the ongoing repatriation efforts.

Both state and central authorities are diligently pursuing all necessary procedures to secure the safe and early return of the fishermen to their homeland.