23 stranded fishermen returns to their families

23 fishermen rescued by Indian Coast Guard were handed over to Bangladesh Coast Guard. On Thursday night, the Media Officer of the Coast Guard Headquarters, Lieutenant Commander Khandaker Munif Toqi gave this information.

He said that the fishing trawler "FV Jasmine" drifted across Bangladesh territorial waters and entered Indian waters due to adverse weather conditions and engine malfunction caused by Cyclone Sitrang. At one point, the fishing trawler was capsized in a storm. Meanwhile, 23 Bangladeshi fishermen floated in the sea holding drums and floating objects used for fishing. An Indian Coast Guard aircraft on patrol spotted the fishermen and immediately provided a life raft to help them stay afloat. Then the fishermen were rescued by the Indian Coast Guard ship ICGS VIJAYA on 25 October 2022. Later on Thursday 27th October 2022 at 12.30 am, the Indian Coast Guard handed over 23 fishermen to the Bangladesh Coast Guard ship Swadhin Bangla at the zero line of the Bangladesh-India sea border through the bilateral agreement of both countries and the fishermen were provided necessary medical care by the said ship. A high speed boat of the Coast Guard then transferred the fishermen and they were brought from Akram Point. They are all healthy now, officials informed.

Lt Commander Khandakar Munif further said that the rescued 23 fishermen were handed over to the representatives of the trawler owners and their families by the Coast Guard West Zone in the presence of the Upazila Nirbahi Officer, Mongla on Thursday night.