BAGERHAT, Dec 10, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh and India have completed the exchange of detained fishermen, with Bangladeshi fishermen returned to their families following a coordinated handover by the two countries' coast guards.

Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq confirmed the developments on Wednesday afternoon.

He said the Bangladesh Navy had seized three Indian fishing boats - FB Ma Mangal Chandi-38, FB Jhar and FB Parmita-4 - along with 47 fishermen on July 12 and August 2, 2025, after they were found fishing illegally in Bangladeshi waters near the Bangladesh-India maritime boundary. Conversely, the Indian Coast Guard detained 32 Bangladeshi fishermen and two fishing boats on September 12 and 17, accusing them of crossing into Indian waters.

Following diplomatic discussions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of both countries agreed on a bilateral exchange of the detained fishermen. The Bangladesh Coast Guard was assigned to carry out the handover process.

On Tuesday, Bangladesh handed over 47 detained Indian fishermen and their three boats to the Indian Coast Guard at the Bangladesh-India International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). In return, Bangladesh received one fishing boat, FB Mayer Doa, along with 32 Bangladeshi fishermen. The handover of the second boat is still in process.

Lieutenant Commander Siam-ul-Haq added the Bangladeshi fishermen and the recovered boat were formally handed over to their families at Coast Guard Base Mongla today at 2:00pm.