Bangladesh Arrests 34 Indian Fishermen

• Bangladesh arrested 34 Indian fishermen in two trawlers near Mongla port, revealing a growing “absence of understanding” between India and Bangladesh.

• The incident occurred on July 14 and 15 and is viewed as a growing “absence of understanding” between the two sides.

• Bangladesh initiated an arbitration to settle the maritime boundary dispute with India in 2009, which was reached in 2014.

• The lack of visible markers at the maritime boundary often causes fishermen to stray across the agreed line in the Bay of Bengal.

• In 2024, 185 fishermen were arrested by India and Bangladesh, with 95 handed over to the Indian Coast Guard in January 2021.

• The “unwritten understanding” between the two countries was that fishermen would have to be protected as they had no means to detect the invisible maritime boundary.

• The incidents of apprehension of fishermen are seen as a sign that the earlier “unwritten understanding” regarding fishermen is no longer being respected.