Overview

• Thirty-four fishermen aboard trawlers FB Jhor and FB Mangalchandi were seized near the Fairway Buoy on July 14–15 and remain in custody at Mongla port.
• The Indian High Commission in Dhaka has sought prompt consular access to assess the fishermen’s health and legal status.
• India’s Ministry of External Affairs formally raised the case with Bangladeshi authorities on July 18–19, demanding swift release of the men and their vessels.
• West Bengal government officials are coordinating with New Delhi’s diplomats to expedite repatriation and support the fishermen’s families.
• The arrest highlights persistent tensions over unclear maritime boundaries in the Bay of Bengal and echoes prior mass detentions that strained bilateral ties.