For the second time in the past one year, Bangladesh has detained Indian fishermen, official sources said on Saturday (July 19, 2025). The development is being viewed by policymakers as a growing “absence of understanding” between the two sides against the backdrop of a seemingly uneasy relationship between Dhaka and New Delhi.

The latest incident took place during the intervening night of July 14 and 15 when 34 Indian fishermen in two trawlers — FB Jhor and FB Ma Mangal Chandi — were apprehended by Bangladesh authorities near the Mongla port. 

“As soon as information about the incident was received, our High Commission in Bangladesh took up the matter with Bangladeshi authorities through diplomatic channels seeking immediate consular access. We are constantly pursuing the matter for facilitating the safe and early return of all the fishermen along with their boats,” said an official dealing with the matter.

On October 8, 2009, Bangladesh initiated an arbitration to settle the maritime boundary dispute with India, and, in 2014, a settlement was reached through the Permanent Court of Arbitration. But though the maritime boundary was decided, lack of visible markers meant fishermen often strayed across the agreed line in the Bay of Bengal.

India and Bangladesh arrested 185 fishermen in the winter of 2024 as bilateral ties plummeted following the overthrow of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, 2024. On January 5 this year, these individuals were exchanged when 95 Indian fishermen were handed over by Bangladesh authorities to the Indian Coast Guard. In response, India returned 90 Bangladeshi fishermen on the same day. As a matter of convention, both sides had an understanding that fishermen would have to be protected as they had no means to detect the invisible maritime boundary.

Such fishermen who crossed the boundary after the settlement of 2014 would often get detained but as part of an “unwritten understanding” supported by political leaders on both sides, these individuals would be quickly released as prolonged detention hurts economic prospects of fishermen in this region. However, the incidents of apprehension of fishermen are being interpreted by policymakers as a sign that the earlier “unwritten understanding” regarding fishermen is no longer being respected.

The Hindu was told that Bangladesh is applying the law in a “stricter” manner which is leading to largescale and prolonged detention of Indian fishermen.