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India-Bangladesh Exchange Fishermen: India-Bangladesh relations have been tense for a long time because the policies of the interim government of Bangladesh are not in favor of India, while Sheikh Hasina taking refuge in Bangladesh is troubling it. However, in the meantime, there has been improvement in relations between the two countries and they have returned each other’s fishermen, who had accidentally crossed the international maritime border.
India-Bangladesh Relation: Relations between India and Bangladesh have not been very good since the removal of Sheikh Hasina’s government in the year 2024. There has been tension between the two countries, sometimes in the name of fundamentalism and sometimes in the name of giving political asylum to Sheikh Hasina. However, now this tension seems to be reducing. That is why both the countries have released each other’s fishermen on humanitarian grounds. The governments of India and Bangladesh completed the process of repatriating 47 Indian fishermen and 38 Bangladeshi fishermen.
Several Indian fishermen had unknowingly crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL), after which they were caught by the Bangladeshi authorities. Similarly, some Bangladeshi fishermen had also crossed the border into Indian waters and were detained by India. Now after talks, both the countries released the fishermen along with their boats. This is being considered a sign of friendship between the two countries, which have been going through tension for several months.
Why is the return of fishermen important?
Earlier in January 2025 also, India had succeeded in bringing back 95 Indian fishermen and on the basis of this, 90 Bangladeshi fishermen were released. Both governments recognize that this exchange of fishermen is important for humanitarian reasons and protects the livelihoods of fishing communities living on both sides of the border. The Government of India says that it gives top priority to the safety of Indian fishermen and efforts will continue for their safe return in future also.
How are the relations between India and Bangladesh?
As long as Sheikh Hasina was the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, relations between the two countries were good and cordial. After the student movement in August 2024, Hasina had to leave her country and Mohammad Yunus became the head of the interim government. Since then, the activities of Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI increased in Bangladesh and the policies of the Bangladesh government also started getting influenced by Pakistan. In such a situation, his relations with India did not remain the same. Especially on the issue of Sheikh Hasina’s return, there is no consensus between the two countries. Bangladesh has given her the death sentence and is demanding her extradition, while India says that this is an act of political vendetta and Hasina can live in India as long as she wants.
