Indian Coast Guard Apprehends Bangladeshi Fishing Boats, 35 arrested

Today, the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) intercepted and apprehended two Bangladeshi fishing boats along with a total of 35 crew members for allegedly entering and operating in Indian territorial waters without authorization. The vessels were reportedly spotted acting suspiciously near the Indo-Bangladesh International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in the Bay of Bengal.

The boats and crew were escorted to Frazerganj in South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, where they were handed over to local marine police for further investigation and legal action under relevant laws, such as the Maritime Zones of India Act.

This incident fits into a pattern of frequent apprehensions in the region due to overlapping fishing grounds and unclear boundaries in shallow waters, often leading to unintentional or alleged incursions.

Such events are common and sometimes resolved through diplomatic exchanges of detained fishermen between India and Bangladesh, as seen in a recent reciprocal repatriation earlier in December 2025.