Families plead for release of Vizianagaram fishermen held in Bangladesh

Concern is growing in Konda Rajupalem village of Bhogapuram mandal, where families of eight fishermen have been waiting for updates from Bangladesh for more than two and a half months.

The fishermen left Visakhapatnam on October 13, 2025, for a routine fishing trip. Officials said their boat drifted into international waters and was intercepted by the Bangladesh Coast Guard on October 22. They have remained in custody since.

The detained men have been identified as Maripalli Chinnappana, Surada Appalakonda, Maripalli Praveen, Ramesh, Chinna Appanna, Seetayya, Appanna and Ramana.

Local leaders, including Konda Rajupalem sarpanch Surada Chinna Rao and Vadabalija Community Sankshema Sangham president Parimella Vasu, have appealed to the state government for intervention. Vasu, who has been providing essential supplies to the families, urged the government to offer at least Rs 20,000 per month as relief until the fishermen return.

The families also met Nellimarla MLA Lokam Madhavi, who assured them that she would take up the issue with the authorities, verify the men’s condition and push for their early release from a Bangladesh jail.

Vizianagaram Collector S. Ramsundar Reddy has forwarded the case details to the state government and requested further action to facilitate their repatriation.