The Bangladeshi-flagged vessel MV Abdullah, recently liberated from Somali pirates, is scheduled to depart Al-Hamriya Port in the United Arab Emirates for Bangladesh today (April 28, 2024) at noon, officials confirmed. The vessel, which had been hijacked for 33 days, successfully unloaded 55,000 metric tonnes of coal at Al-Hamriya Port yesterday. The owner, KSRM Group, announced that the vessel and its crew of 23 sailors are expected to arrive at Chattogram Port by mid-May. Mizanul Islam, a spokesperson for the Chattogram-based KSRM Group, reported that the loading operations were completed yesterday, and the vessel is now ready to embark on its journey back to Bangladesh. MV Abdullah reaches Dubai’s Al Hamriya Port MV Abdullah initially anchored at the UAE port on the evening of April 22, following its release from pirate captivity. Distinguished guests including Mohammad Abu Jafar, the Bangladesh Ambassador, and officials from SR Shipping, the vessel's operating company, were present to welcome the crew upon their arrival. The ship first arrived at the outer anchorage of the port on April 21, following its ordeal which began on March 12 when it was seized by Somali pirates about 600 nautical miles off the Somali coast en route from Mozambique to Dubai. The pirates took control of the vessel and its crew, holding them until a ransom of Tk 55 crore facilitated their release on the night of April 13. Family counting days for safe return of MV Abdullah's chief engineer Following the release, MV Abdullah headed to Al-Hamriya Port under the escort of an EU NAVFOR warship, navigating through approximately 480 nautical miles of high-risk areas along the Somali coast and the Red Sea before reaching the safety of the United Arab Emirates. This voyage marks a significant step towards recovery after the harrowing pirate attack, with the crew looking forward to a safe return to their homeland. Previous experience used to rescue MV Abdullah, crew: KSRM

Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday (March 28, 2024) said that there has been progress in the government’s efforts to free the Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah, which was hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean along with 23 sailors on board. “Our aim is to rescue the sailors unharmed and at the same time rescue the ship. I just want to say that we have advanced much,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today. Govt trying to free the hijacked ship and bring back crew members safely as soon as possible: Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said they are in contact and are making multifaceted efforts to rescue the crew members. Pirates make maiden contact with MV Abdullah’s owner Regarding the reported food shortage on the ship, he said food shortage has never happened in the past when ships have been hijacked. “Hopefully it won’t happen in this case either.” After 9 days of taking the Bangladeshi ship and holding 23 sailors hostage, Somali pirates contacted the owners. Owner of hijacked vessel MV Abdullah doesn’t want armed operation

Owner of the Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah that was hijacked by Somali pirates on March 12, does not support armed operation to free the ship and its crew. Mizanul Islam, media adviser of the owner KSRM Group, said that they are not in favour of any armed operation, considering the safety of the sailors. Rather, they are in favour of accepting conditions to rescue the crew, he said. The information that the European Union and the Indian Navy are preparing to free MV Abdullah is not correct, the media adviser informed. Replying to a question from UNB’s Chattogram correspondent, Mizanul said that the Somali pirates who hijacked the ship have already contacted them, though they are yet to demand any ransom. Read more: All crew members are safe on the hijacked vessel: KSRM Group’s media consultant “We hope to rescue the ship, free 23 sailors, and bring them back home through discussions. We are working on that end. In this case, the company is trying to utilise its previous experience,” he informed. He said family members of the crew members are in touch with them. Commodore Mohammad Maksud Alam, director general (DG) of Department of Shipping, said that no one can conduct an operation on the hijacked ship without permission from Bangladesh. Discussions are underway to free the ship and crew from the pirates and it will take some time, the DG said. Read more: ‘If money is not given, they will kill us’: Audio message of hijacked ship’s chief officer He also informed that the presence of the EU navy’s ship won’t impact the discussion. On March 12, a group of Somali pirates seized control of the Bangladesh-flagged cargo vessel when it was carrying coal from Mozambique’s Maputo port to Al Hamriyah Port in the UAE. MV Abdullah is owned by SR Shipping Lines, a sister concern of Chattogram-based Kabir Steel and Rerolling Mill (KSRM) Group. On March 20, the pirates made the first contact with the owner of the vessel. Read more: ‘Indian Ocean is named after us; if we don't take action, who will?’: Indian Navy Chief

Indian Navy will take affirmative action to ensure there is safety and security in the Indian ocean, Admiral R Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff, said on Saturday (March 23, 2024). The Indian Navy is keeping a close watch on the hijacked Bangladeshi vessel MV Abdullah and it has been taken to Somalia, he said. ‘If money is not given, they will kill us’: Audio message of hijacked ship’s chief officer He was speaking on the 100 days of the Indian Navy’s operations for anti-drone, anti-missile and anti-piracy attacks in the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Red Sea. Earlier, there were 54-55 anti-piracy ships everyday and now it has gone up to 64-65. Please pray, says hijacked ship Abdullah's chief engineer to his family "The Indian Navy is very clear about its job. This is the Indian Ocean, named after us, and if we don't take action, then who will?" he said. Govt in touch with international bodies to rescue hijacked Bangladeshi ship, its crew: FM

MV Abdullah, a Bangladeshi cargo vessel, that was hijacked by a group of Somali pirates was around 150 nautical miles off the Somalian coast till Wednesday (March 13, 2024) evening. “And the ship will reach the Somalia anchorage by tomorrow morning,” Mizanul Islam, media consultant of KSRM Group, told UNB. ‘If money is not given, they will kill us’: Audio message of hijacked ship’s chief officer “All the crew members are safe and sound now on the hijacked vessel,” he added. On Tuesday, the ship, carrying coal from Mozambique’s Maputo port to Al Hamriyah Port in the UAE, was attacked around noon. Please pray, says hijacked ship Abdullah's chief engineer to his family MV Abdullah is owned by SR Shipping Lines – a sister company of Chattogram-based Kabir Steel and Rerolling Mill (KSRM) Group. All crew members are being held hostage by the pirates, said KSRM’s media adviser Mizanul Islam. Govt in touch with international bodies to rescue hijacked Bangladeshi ship, its crew: FM

Mina Azmin, wife of Mohammad Atique Ullah Khan, chief officer of the Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah that was hijacked by Somali pirates, had to be admitted to a hospital after fainting repeatedly. Atique sent an audio message to his wife around iftar time on Tuesday (March 12, 2024). Atique’s audio message said, “They are taking our mobile phones away. The bottom line is, if the money is not given, they will kill us one by one. The sooner the money is given, the sooner they will let us go. Please, get this message out.” Atique is from Chandanaish upazila of Chattogram. He lives in the Nandan Kanan area of the port city with his mother, wife and three daughters. His elderly mother Shahnoor Begum and children broke down in tears when this correspondent went to their home last night. Shahnoor Begum was crying and hugging a framed picture of Atique. Govt in touch with international bodies to rescue hijacked Bangladeshi ship, its crew: FM "A day feels like a year! I was told that we’ll have to wait a few months to get our son back. How will I live with this sorrow?" — Shahnoor Begum wailed. With her son held hostage by Somali pirates and daughter-in-law unwell, Shahnoor Begum was visibly worried. She said, "In his last voice message, my son told my daughter-in-law, ‘If they don't give the money, they will kill us.' She has been ill ever since she got that message. “She is expecting. After losing consciousness several times on Tuesday night, we took her to a private hospital. After treatment, we brought her home. She is still ill! “My son Atique took the responsibility of the whole family. He has been working on the ship since 2007. Now he is in terrible danger! I don't know how my son is, if he has food to eat. “We were sitting down to have Iftar on the first day of Ramadan. I just put a date in my mouth; at that time the phone rang. My son said that Somali pirates had attacked their ship. The ship is now under their control.” Please pray, says hijacked ship Abdullah's chief engineer to his family

The family of Joy Mahmud, Ordinary Seaman, who is among 23 crew members of a Bangladeshi cargo vessel, MV Abdullah – hijacked by a group of Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday (March 12, 2024) – is counting every moment in anxiety. Joy, hailing from Salinagar village in Bagatipara upazila of Natore district, informed of his fate to his cousin Maruf over the phone after the Somali pirates took them as hostages. Maruf said Joy asked him not to inform his parents about the incident but they came to know about it through public representatives and media. Ziaur Rahman and Abida Begum, Joy’s parents, have not slept since hearing about the captivity of their only son. They want the government and the ship authorities to take immediate action to rescue everyone on board, including their son. Prime accused, 4 cohorts arrested over terrorist Ramzan killing in Jashore Joy joined the ship as Ordinary Seaman on November 29 last year. Among the 23 crew members, 11 hailed from Chattogram alone, two are from Noakhali and one each from Natore, Naogaon, Feni, Faridpur, Lakshmipur, Barishal, Netrakona, Sirajganj, Tangail and Khulna. Earlier on Tuesday, the ship, carrying coal from Mozambique’s Maputo port to Al Hamriyah Port in the UAE, was attacked around noon. MV Abdullah is owned by SR Shipping Lines – a sister company of Chattogram-based Kabir Steel and Rerolling Mill (KSRM) Group. All crew members are being held hostage by the pirates, said KSRM’s media adviser Mizanul Islam. Muslims in 40 Chandpur villages start Ramadan fasting in accord with Saudi Arabia The crew members are: Captain Mohammad Abdur Rashid, Chief Officer Mohammad Atikullah Khan, Second Officer Mazharul Islam Chowdhury, Third Officer Tarequl Islam, Deck Cadet Sabbir Hossain, Chief Engineer ASM Saiduzzaman, Second Officer Toufiqul Islam, Third Engineer Rokon Uddin, Fourth Engineer Tanvir Ahmed, Engine Cadet Ayub Khan, electrician Ibrahim Khalil, seaman Md Anwarul Haque, seaman Md Asifur Rahman, seaman  Sazzad Hossain, seaman Joy Mahmud, seaman Nazmul Haque, seaman Ainul Haque, oiler Mohamamd Shamsuddin, Ali Hossain, fireman Mosharraf Hossain Shakil, chief cook Shafiqul Islam, general steward Nur Uddin, and fitter Saleh Ahmed. KSRM owns 23 ships – all operating on international routes. In 2010, one of the ships, ‘MV Zahan Moni’, was hijacked and was later released by Somali pirates after providing ransom.