BGB, BSF swap fishermen

Border Guard of Bangladesh (BGB) and Indian Border Security Force (BSF) exchanged the fishermen arrested by the border guards of both countries at a flag meeting held at Charghat upazila of the district on Wednesday night.

BGB members returned the 11 Indian fishermen they caught earlier on the day from the Padma River for intruding into Bangladesh territory hours after BSF members picked up nine Bangladeshi fishermen and a minor boy on the same charge.

The border forces of both countries held a flag meeting at 9:00pm at a place between Charghat's Chalkpara and India's Kagmari, said Charghat BGB camp commander Nayeb Subedar Muhammad Ali.

Ali and Subedar Golam Mostafa led the Bangladesh side in the meeting while Kagmari BSF camp commander Assistant Commissioner Sanjay Kumar led the Indian side.

BGB protested the arrest and requested BSF officials to return the fishermen.

As the Indian side did not return the Bangladeshi fishermen, BGB members of Charghat BGB camp picked up 11 Indian fishermen from the river.