23 Indian fishermen freed after three months in Bangladesh custody

For the families of 23 fishermen who were held by Bangladesh security forces, the long wait finally seems to be over, with official confirmation of their release on Tuesday (January 27). Overwhelmed with emotion, fishermen from Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal were able to hear the voices of their loved ones over the phone after being released from the Bagherhat District Jail in Bangladesh.

The group includes nine fishermen from Andhra Pradesh and 14 from West Bengal. They had been in custody since October 2025 after their fishing boats lost navigation on October 21 and drifted inadvertently into Bangladeshi waters, where they were intercepted by the Bangladesh coastal security.

“We are safe, we are coming home,” was the message that echoed across phone lines as the fishermen were moved to Mongla Port under tight security.

The release followed coordinated efforts by the authorities of both countries. The fishermen are currently staying at Mongla Port, where their seized boats are being repaired and readied for the return journey.

Mohammad Hafiz Al Asad, Deputy Secretary in the Bangladesh Ministry of Home Affairs, travelled from Dhaka to oversee the release process, sources said. Representing Indian interests, Chandrajeet from the Assistant High Commission of India in Khulna and Vasupalli Janakiram, president of the East Coast Mechanised Fishing Boat Owners Association, Visakhapatnam, completed the necessary documentation.

Officials said that despite the sensitive bilateral situation, special care was taken to ensure the welfare of the Indian fishermen during their nearly three-month detention.

The fishermen are scheduled to be formally handed over to India at the International Maritime Boundary Line on January 29, with the Coast Guards of both countries facilitating the process.

Speaking to The Hindu over the phone from Khulna on Tuesday evening, Mr. Janakiram said the nine fishermen from Andhra Pradesh were expected to reach Visakhapatnam on January 31 or February 1. He expressed gratitude to the Indian High Commission, district magistrates and political leaders for their efforts in securing what he described as a humanitarian victory. He added that the fishermen were presently at Mongla Port.

Mr. Janakiram also said that during his personal visit to the jail, he found that the fishermen had been provided special care and did not face hardships during detention, despite the complexities in bilateral relations. He added that the boats seized by the authorities were undergoing minor repairs at Mongla Port.