Mongla, August 4 (V7N) — Fourteen Indian fishermen have been sent to jail by a court in Bagerhat after being arrested for illegally entering Bangladeshi waters and fishing without permission. They were detained by the Bangladesh Navy on Saturday night from the Bay of Bengal near the Fairway Buoy, close to Mongla Port, aboard the Indian fishing trawler FB Parmita.

The navy handed the men over to Mongla Police at approximately 3:00 a.m. on Sunday. Later that night, a formal case was filed against them under Section 25(1) of the Marine Fisheries Act, 2020. The charges relate to unauthorized entry into Bangladesh's exclusive economic zone and engaging in fishing activities in violation of local maritime law.

On Monday afternoon, the suspects were presented before Bagerhat Magistrate Court-06, which ordered them to be held in jail custody pending further legal proceedings.

This incident follows a similar operation on July 14, in which two Indian fishing trawlers and 34 crew members were detained for violating Bangladesh’s maritime boundaries.

Law enforcement and naval authorities say increased surveillance efforts are ongoing to curb illegal fishing and cross-border maritime violations in the Bay of Bengal.

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