The Indian Coast Guard has seized two trawlers carrying 79 Bangladeshi sailors

The Indian Coast Guard has seized two trawlers with 79 Bangladeshi sailors while they were fishing near the edge of Bangladesh’s territorial waters.

The trawlers were taken by the Indian Coast Guard from the Heron Point area in Khulna around 10:00 AM on Monday, as confirmed by the owners and the shipping department.

The two vessels are FV Laila-2, owned by SR Fishing, and FB Meghna-5, owned by C and F Agro Limited.

C and F Agro Limited’s executive director, Suman Sen, told Prothom Alo that the two trawlers had been fishing within a nautical mile of Bangladesh’s waters for the past 10 days. However, on Monday, the Indian Coast Guard seized the trawlers and their crews around 10:00 AM. Sen added that the Indian Coast Guard later handed the trawlers and sailors over to the Indian Navy.

Sen further mentioned that Rahul Biswas, the captain of the captured trawler, communicated via radio with the captains of other company trawlers, assuring them that all sailors were safe.

The owners of the two trawlers met with Mohammad Maksud Alam, the Director General of the Department of Shipping, who confirmed that efforts are underway to recover the vessels and the crew.

Commodore Maksud Alam explained to Prothom Alo, "The two trawlers were fishing near the maritime boundary of Bangladesh when the Indian Coast Guard seized them. Following this, the Bangladesh Coast Guard and other relevant government agencies have contacted their Indian counterparts and are working to retrieve the vessels."