Photo: Collected
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Thursday said Bangladesh and India would exchange nearly 200 fishermen detained in their respective countries on Sunday. "If everything (formalities) goes as per schedule, the exchanges will take place on Sunday," he told reporters while visiting the recently renovated DCAB (Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh) Lounge at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin, Secretary (East) Dr Md Nazrul Islam, outgoing DCAB President Nurul Islam Hasib, newly elected President AKM Moinuddin, and DCAB members were present.
India currently holds 90 Bangladeshi fishermen who were detained on different occasions while 95 Indian fishermen were being held in Bangladeshi prisons.
According to a report by the Indian news outlet The Economic Times, on December 10, the Indian Coast Guard detained two Bangladeshi trawlers, along with 78 crew members, on charges of fishing "illegally" in Indian waters.
Earlier, in September last, 12 Bangladeshi fishermen were detained when their trawler sank in Indian water. Six Indian trawlers entered Bangladesh water in September and October last, leading to the detention of 95 Indian sailors and the confiscation of their trawlers.
At the Lounge visit ceremony, the Foreign Adviser highlighted the role of media in doing responsible journalism while covering various foreign affairs issues.
The Foreign Adviser and Foreign Secretary congratulated the newly elected DCAB Executive Committee members while outgoing President Hasib thanked the MoFA for their support.
Messenger/JRTarek
