The Indian Coast Guard (ICG), in a swift operation, rescued 27 Bangladeshi fishermen who were stranded on their fishing boat at sea on April 4. According to the ICG, during a routine patrol at the Indo-Bangladesh International Maritime Border Line (IMBL), the ICG Ship Amogh spotted a Bangladeshi fishing boat (BFB) called Sagar II, adrift within Indian waters at around 1130 hours on Thursday. The ICG ship dispatched a boarding team to investigate, and they found out that the boat had a steering gear breakdown for the last two days, which caused it to drift inside Indian waters. The BFB had 27 crew/fishermen onboard.
The Indian Coast Guard technical team tried to identify and rectify the defect, but it was observed that the rudder of the boat was completely damaged and could not be repaired at sea. As the sea state and weather conditions were conducive, it was decided that the distressed boat would be towed to the Indo-Bangladesh IMBL and handed over to another Bangladeshi fishing boat operating across IMBL or to Bangladesh Coast Guard Ship, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Indian Coast Guard and Bangladesh Coast Guard, the ICG statement stated.
The Indian Coast Guard Regional Headquarters based in Kolkata established communication with the Bangladesh Coast Guard to inform them about an incident and the plan of action on Thursday. The Bangladesh Coast Guard soon deployed their ship, BCGS Kamaruzzaman, to tow BFB. At around 1845 hrs on the same day, the BCG ship arrived near the IMBL. Following this, ICGS Amogh handed over the Bangladeshi fishermen and their boat to the BCG Ship Kamaruzzaman.
The Indian Coast Guard’s dedication to ensuring the safety of lives at sea under challenging circumstances is reflected in its recent operation. Such successful search and rescue missions not only reinforce the regional SAR framework but also foster international collaboration with neighboring countries. This aligns with the Indian Coast Guard’s motto of “Vayam Rakshamah,” which signifies its commitment to safeguarding lives and property.
Ravi Shankar
