Mongla, August 4 (V7N) - The Bangladesh Navy has detained an Indian fishing trawler and 14 fishermen for illegally entering Bangladeshi maritime territory in the Bay of Bengal. The seizure was made late Saturday night by the Bangladesh Navy warship BNS Bishkhali near the Fairway Buoy, located off the coast of Mongla Port in southern Bangladesh.
 
The vessel, identified as FB Parmita, was found fishing unlawfully within Bangladeshi waters. Navy officials confiscated a large quantity of marine fish, including hilsa, from the trawler. The detained fishermen, all residents of South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal, India, were taken into custody and are being transported to Mongla under naval escort. The vessel was expected to reach Digraraj area in Mongla by Sunday evening.
 
According to Mongla Upazila Senior Fisheries Officer Md Zahidul Islam, the seized fish will be auctioned, and the trawler along with its crew will be handed over to Mongla police for further legal proceedings.
 
Officer-in-Charge of Mongla Police Station, (OC) Md Anisur Rahman, confirmed that a case will be filed under Bangladesh’s Marine Fisheries Ordinance for illegal entry and fishing in national waters. The arrested individuals will be produced before the Bagerhat court on Monday.
 
This incident follows a similar operation on July 14, when the navy detained two Indian trawlers, FB Jhor and FB Mongol Chandi, along with 34 fishermen from the same region for the same offense.
 
The Bangladesh Navy has increased patrols in the southern maritime border to prevent illegal fishing activities and protect the country’s marine resources.
 
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