After seven months of uncertainty and detention, 91 Bangladeshi fishermen were released from Indian custody and repatriated on Saturday. They had been imprisoned in India on charges of crossing the international maritime boundary while fishing in the Bay of Bengal. Following completion of all legal procedures, the fishermen were sent from Fraserganj fishing port in South 24 Parganas aboard four trawlers toward international waters, where they were formally handed over to Bangladeshi authorities in the presence of senior naval officials from both countries.

According to administrative and police sources, the fishermen were detained about seven months ago when four Bangladeshi trawlers unintentionally entered Indian waters. The Indian Coast Guard apprehended them and handed them over to Fraserganj Coastal Police. They remained in Indian prisons under court orders until diplomatic and administrative processes between the two nations enabled their release.

The handover operation was conducted peacefully under tight security. The four trawlers, owned by individuals from Kutubdia and Patuakhali, were also returned along with the fishermen.