India and Bangladesh complete humanitarian exchange of fishermen on December 9, 2025

Key facts

• India and Bangladesh completed a coordinated humanitarian exchange of fishermen, repatriating those who had inadvertently crossed the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) while fishing.
• The exchange on December 9, 2025, involved the release and repatriation of 47 Indian fishermen and 38 Bangladesh fishermen, along with their operable vessel.
• In January 2025, the Government of India facilitated the release of 95 Indian fishermen, and in a reciprocal manner, released 90 Bangladeshi fishermen.
• The mutual repatriation arrangement was shaped by the humanitarian and livelihood concerns of fishing communities on both sides.
• The Government of India attaches the highest importance to the safety, security and welfare of Indian fishermen.