India and Bangladesh are expected to exchange 185 fishermen and their detained vessels on Sunday. Dhaka has agreed to hand over 95 Indian fishermen to Indian authorities. In a reciprocal gesture, India has agreed to release 90 Bangladeshi fishermen detained in Indian custody.
The exchange is scheduled to take place on January 5 at the International Maritime Border in the Bay of Bengal between the Coast Guards of both countries, according to a release issued by the Bangladeshi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.
Additionally, two Bangladeshi fishing vessels detained in India and six Indian fishing boats held in Bangladesh will also be handed over as part of the process.
Earlier on Thursday, Bangladeshi authorities released the 95 Indian fishermen, who had been held in Bagerhat and Patuakhali District Jails. They were handed over to the Bangladesh Coast Guard to facilitate the repatriation process.
The Indian fishermen had been in Bangladeshi jails for over two months.
