Myanmar has handed over 17 Bangladeshi fishermen who were detained after their boat drifted to the neighbouring country's maritime boundary.

Members of Bangladesh Coast Guard's St Martin's Island station received the Bangladeshis on Friday (Dec 6) night.

Patrol vessel CGS Tazuddin Commander (BN) SM Mizbah Uddin said: "The Myanmar Navy returned the fishermen to us on the zero lines of the Bay of Bengal around 9 pm.

"They are now heading towards Teknaf from St Martin's Island."

On Nov 30, the engine of the fishermen's boat stopped functioning while they were fishing in Bangladesh's territory, the coast guard official said.

At one stage, the boat entered into the maritime boundary of Myanmar and its navy personnel rescued them on Dec 5, he said.

The authorities put their efforts to bring them back through discussion with Myanmar Navy, Mizbah Uddin said.

Earlier, a team from Bangladesh Consulate in Sittwe made necessary coordination between Myanmar and Bangladesh for the repatriation process.

Among the fishermen, 13 hailed from Bhola, 2 from Chittagong, and one each from Jhalakathi and Munshiganj.