In a gesture of goodwill, India released 12 Bangladeshi fishermen jailed in West Bengal. The fishermen are now on their way back home.
This was after the Central government asked the West Bengal government to “withdraw from prosecution” of the fishermen, who had entered Indian waters mid-September when their boat capsized near Patharpratima. They had been arrested under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act and sent to jail.
Debabrata Roy Chowdhury, controller of the Subsidiary Correctional Home, was present during the release. He said, “We obliged the court order. The 12 Bangladeshi nationals were released and handed over to state administrative officials.”
The move comes at a time when 95 Indian fishermen are lodged in jails in Bangladesh.
On Tuesday around noon, the Bangladeshi fishermen were released from the Diamond Harbor Subsidiary Correctional Home and handed over to the district officials of South 24 Parganas.
“I am so happy to return home. I thank the government. We were safe and kept well here. The jail authorities took good care of us,” said Sakil Muhammed, one of the released fishermen, speaking with mediapersons after his release.
“The recently developed perception that India is not safe or proper for us, is wrong. I was treated well here. I also wish that those Indian fishermen who are now in Bangladesh jails be released too,” added Muhammed.
According to the district administration, the 12 fishermen will be kept at a temporary shelter in South 24 Parganas before they are handed over to the Border Security Force who will then send them back to Bangladesh.
In October, six trawlers from West Bengal entered Bangladesh waters, following which the Bangladesh Navy detained 95 persons, who were later arrested.
The move comes at a time when India-Bangladesh relations are strained and the latter has sent a diplomatic note seeking extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina had fled to India after her regime fell in Bangladesh amidst mass protests.
Earlier, India had expressed concerns over the arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das, a monk, and alleged atrocities on minorities in Bangladesh.