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