ISPR Clarifies: Bangladesh Navy Not Involved in Parmita-10 Incident

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has recently refuted baseless, misleading, and false reports circulating in some media outlets and social media platforms linking the Bangladesh Navy to an incident involving the Indian fishing trawler Parmita-10.

In a press release on Tuesday, 16 December, ISPR stated that contrary to claims, the Bangladesh Navy did not sink the Indian trawler while it was allegedly fishing in the Bay of Bengal. At the time of the accident, the naval patrol ship was operating over 12 miles away within Bangladesh’s territorial waters.

According to ISPR, at 3:15 PM on Monday, 15 December Bangladesh time, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Center (MRCC) of the Indian Coast Guard informed the Dhaka MRCC via email that the Parmita-10, carrying 16 fishermen, had capsized in Indian waters of the Bay of Bengal. Another Indian fishing vessel, Raghupati, had rescued 11 of the crew members, while 5 were still missing. The Indian Coast Guard also requested assistance from nearby vessels in rescuing the remaining fishermen.

Upon receiving the notification, the Bangladesh Navy immediately dispatched its patrol ship to conduct a search operation within Bangladesh’s territorial waters. Coordinated efforts between the relevant authorities of both countries, local fishermen, and the Indian Coast Guard ensured that the search operations were conducted effectively. ISPR emphasized that such actions fulfill humanitarian responsibilities and strengthen neighborly ties.

The press release further urged media outlets to refrain from publishing false claims, stating: “It is extremely regrettable and undesirable that some reports suggested the Bangladesh Navy entered Indian waters and sank the Parmita-10. These reports are entirely baseless, and we appeal to all media to avoid propagating misinformation or disinformation against the Bangladesh Navy or Bangladesh.”

DBTech/ISPR/OR