India and Bangladesh announced on Thursday an agreement to release fishermen detained for crossing the maritime border, a move aimed at addressing humanitarian and livelihood concerns. The decision comes at a time when bilateral ties between the two nations remain strained.

Under the agreement, Bangladesh will release 95 Indian fishermen to Indian authorities on January 5, while India will reciprocate by releasing 90 Bangladeshi fishermen on the same day. The exchange will include the return of the fishermen's vessels, according to an official statement.

The fishermen are often arrested after unintentionally crossing the maritime boundary while fishing in disputed waters. "In recent months, several Indian fishermen were detained by Bangladeshi authorities after inadvertently crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line into Bangladeshi waters," the Indian government stated. Similarly, Indian authorities have detained Bangladeshi fishermen under comparable circumstances.

The exchange is being facilitated with a focus on the humanitarian and livelihood challenges faced by fishing communities on both sides, the statement added.

Relations between the two neighbors have been tense since the interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, assumed power in Bangladesh. India has expressed concerns over increasing attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh.

The diplomatic rift deepened last month after Bangladesh's interim government issued a formal request to India for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina fled to India in August following widespread anti-government protests and has been living there since.

This agreement to release fishermen serves as a rare collaborative gesture amid growing challenges in India-Bangladesh relations.