The Bangladesh Coast Guard has detained 13 Indian fishermen along with their trawler for alleged illegal intrusion into Bangladeshi waters, media reports said.

Shadhin Bangla, a patrol vessel of the coast guard, spotted the trawler, named Pita Matar Ashirbad-12, illegally fishing in Bangladeshi waters on Thursday.

Sensing the patrol’s presence, the fishermen tried to flee but 13 of them were detained 17 nautical miles northwest of Mongla Fairway Buoy, according to Dhaka Tribune.

The process of turning them over to Mongla police station was underway, said Lt Commander Amirul Haque, media officer at Bangladesh Coast Guard headquarters.

There is a Memorandum of Understanding between India and Bangladesh for the rescue and return of fishermen who stray across the international maritime boundary line (IMBL) due to bad weather or the boat's mechanical failure. ndian authorities organize regular campaigns to create awareness among fishermen about the perils of breaching the IMBL.

(SAM)