The 17 Bangladeshi fishermen, who sailed on October 18, were rescued by fishermen from Podampeta on November 2 and have been detained since then at the Marine police station in Arjeepalli.
"We have already spoken to the Bangladesh High Commission. We hope they will respond soon," Ganjam district collector Krishan Kumar said.
"We have also provided information about them to the Ministry of Home Affairs as required. The MHA might have taken up the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs," Superintendent of Police Ashish Singh said.
With no response so far, Nuri Alam, a fisherman said, "We are worried about our family in Bangladesh."
Another fisherman, Abdul Basara, said, "I don't know how my family is sustaining as I am the bread earner."
