Days after Mamata Banerjee’s claims, Bangladesh denies mistreating Indian fishermen

Banerjee on Monday felicitated the Indian fishermen who had been arrested for illegally entering Bangladesh waters, and described them as “victims of circumstances”.

“I found some of them were limping. When asked, the fishermen told me that they were assaulted in jail with their hands tied. As a result, they have injuries below the waist and the legs … They were crying while talking to me,” Banerjee said at a felicitation ceremony for the released fishermen.

The fishermen were arrested for allegedly entering Bangladeshi waters illegally over two months ago.

Dhaka “firmly rejects such unfounded allegations, which undermine the spirit of trust, goodwill and mutual respect between Bangladesh and India,” Bangladesh’s Ministry said.

It noted that a thorough investigation found “no such ill-treatment or incident of physical abuse happened.”

The 95 Indian fishermen and crew, aboard six fishing boats, were detained by Bangladesh after they “mistakenly” entered Bangladeshi waters in October and November last year.

On Sunday, a prisoner exchange took place in the Bay of Bengal between India and Bangladesh. The India Coast Guard ships, Varad and Amrit Kaur, repatriated 95 Indian fishermen and four boats while handing over 90 Bangladeshi fishermen, including 12 rescued from the sunken “Kaushik,” to the Bangladesh Coast Guard.

The Indian Coast Guard handed these fishermen over to the district magistrate of South 24 Parganas near Sagar Island on Monday.

The Bangladeshi Foreign Ministry’s statement further clarified that Indian High Commission representatives were granted consular access during the detention of the fishermen. They visited the detainees and were present at their release from jails on January 2 and their departure from southwestern Mongla borders on January 4.

“Relevant Bangladeshi hospitals conducted the Indian fishermen’s health screenings, confirming that they were medically fit while, during their journey towards the maritime border, Bangladesh Coast Guard authorities extended all necessary support,” the statement said.

It added that the reciprocal repatriation process reflected the Bangladeshi government’s commitment to resolving humanitarian issues amicably and collaboratively with India.

The reciprocal repatriation of 90 Bangladeshi fishermen and 95 Indian fishermen was successfully completed on January 5 near the International Maritime Boundary Line. Simultaneously, detained vessels – two Bangladeshi and six Indian – were also exchanged, the ministry noted.

(With Inputs from PTI)