West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Monday said she has written to the Centre to facilitate talks with Bangladesh for ensuring the return of Indian fishermen who had unknowingly entered the neighbouring country's territory.
Banerjee said fishermen from the Sunderbans region, who are in custody of Bangladesh authorities for straying across the boundary, will return home soon.
"Since there were some changes in the boundary recently, the fishermen were unaware. I have written to the Centre to initiate discussions with the Bangladesh government. Talks with Bangladesh are already on and the fishermen will return soon," Banerjee said at a public meeting here in South 24 Parganas district.
She also announced the launch of a Rs.400-crore project to boost tourism infrastructure in the Sundarbans on a public-private partnership model.
The Sunderbans are the world's largest mangrove forest.