Rescued Fishermen Told Me Bangladesh Officials Tortured Them: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee – News18

Last Updated:January 06, 2025, 18:10 IST

While 95 Indian fishermen returned on Sunday, 90 fishermen were sent back to Bangladesh. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee met them in Ganga Sagar on Monday

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that the Indian fishermen, who were released from a Bangladesh jail on Sunday, told her that they were tortured in the neighbouring country.

While 95 Indian fishermen returned on Sunday, 90 fishermen were sent back to Bangladesh. Banerjee met them at Ganga Sagar on Monday and gave them Rs 10,000 each. “These 95 fishermen are my brothers. I saw some of them were unable to walk properly. I asked them what happened to them. They told me that they were tortured in Bangladesh jail. Bangladeshi trawlers came to our side, too, but we kept their fishermen properly. We cared for them and took the initiative to send them back to their country. I want friendship between the two countries like before,” said Banerjee.

Banerjee stressed that the state government took the initiative to continuously follow up on the case, which has helped in the return of the fishermen. Along with 95 fishermen, one person jumped from the ship in fear.

Banerjee ordered that the fishermen be included in the state welfare schemes for the community.

Pacchu Biswas, who is over 75, told News18: “When their Navy caught us, they hit us with sticks and did not even listen to us. They beat us up badly. I can’t even mention what happened to us. We are still in pain.”

Ananda Sarkar, another fisherman, told News18, “We go to sea for our livelihood. They caught us and tortured us, even though we kept saying we had entered by mistake. They then sent us to jail. I thought my life would end there. Thank you to those who got us back. We have narrated our ordeal to Didi.”

Ranjan Das said, “More than the jail, the Navy was merciless.”

“Their Coast Guard and Navy tied our hands from behind. They beat up the man who was running the ship,” said a rescued fisherman.

Others, too, had similar stories. “When talks were going on, we were told we would be released. We know we will still have to enter the waters for our livelihood,” concluded one of them.