In a tense development on the high seas, the MV ABDULLAH, a vessel under the Bangladeshi flag journeying from Mozambique to Dubai with 23 crew members aboard, fell victim to a hijacking by pirates in the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean this past Monday, 11 March. The incident has prompted an immediate response from Bangladeshi authorities.

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, during a press briefing at the Secretariat on 13 March, conveyed the government’s unwavering commitment to securing the safe return of the MV ABDULLAH and its crew. Acknowledging the complexity of the situation, given the pirates’ unpredictable nature, Chowdhury emphasized the involvement of specialized entities capable of establishing contact with the hijackers. “Rescuing our nationals and the vessel is a priority that we are fully committed to,” he affirmed.

The exact whereabouts of the hijacked ship, currently positioned approximately 600 nautical miles from the Somali coast, remain unclear, the Minister stressed that assumptions about the captors’ origins are premature. The national leadership, including the Prime Minister, has been actively coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other pertinent bodies to facilitate the crew’s safe repatriation.

The Minister further reassured the public that there have been no confirmed threats against the crew members’ lives from the pirates. This situation has galvanized a sense of urgency within the Bangladeshi government and SR Shipping, the Chattogram-based company owning the MV ABDULLAH and part of the KSRM Group, to prioritize the crew’s well-being and swift rescue.

Shahriar Jahan Rahat, Deputy Managing Director of KSRM Group, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the paramount importance of establishing a communication line with the pirates to negotiate the crew’s release. As the situation unfolds, the resolve of Bangladeshi authorities and SR Shipping remains firm, with hopes pinned on a successful resolution and the safe return of the 23 crew members.