- 23 crew members taken hostage from MV Abdullah
- Sailors are safe but concerns remain
- Threaten to kill sailors if ransom isn’t paid
- Carrying coal from Mozambique to the UAE
The MV Abdullah, a Bangladeshi-flagged vessel, was en route from Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates when it was overtaken by pirates in the Indian Ocean. The ship, which is operated by SR Shipping, a subsidiary of the Kabir Steel and Rerolling Mill (KSRM) Group, was carrying a cargo of coal. The vessel, previously known as the Golden Hawk, was seized in the Indian Ocean with 23 crew members aboard, all of whom were nationals of Bangladesh.
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Captain Abdur Rashid was leading the vessel when it sent a distress signal at approximately 1:30 pm Bangladesh time on March 12. SR Shipping’s CEO, Mohammad Meherul Karim, confirmed the takeover and stated that efforts were underway to gather more information and secure the crew’s safety.
The International Maritime Bureau has confirmed that the ship has dropped anchor 20 miles away from Garacad region of Somalia coast. According to a statement from the EU maritime security force involved in Operation ATALANTA, a vessel is currently “shadowing” the cargo carrier, as reported by ABC News.
How things unfolded?
The chief officer of the ship Atiq Ullah Khan has revealed details regarding the situation onboard through an audio message.
Atiq said in the message: “It was 10:30am, (1:30pm Bangladesh Time). A high-speed boat was approaching us. We immediately rang the alarm and went to the bridge. The captain and the ship’s second officer were on the bridge at that time.
“We sent out an SOS (an international code signal of extreme distress). We tried contacting the UKMTO (UK Maritime Trade Operations), but they did not respond. They (pirates) surrounded the captain and the second officer. At this time, some shots were fired.
“A few others came in another speedboat. Thus 15-20 people boarded the ship. After a while, more pirates arrived in a large Iranian fishing boat. They had seized the Iranian fishing boat a month ago. With it, they had roamed the seas for a month looking for new ships to capture. Unfortunately, they found us.”
The Hostages of MV Abdullah
Among the 23 crew members, 11 are from Chittagong, two are from Noakhali and one each from Natore, Naogaon, Feni, Faridpur, Lakshmipur, Barisal, Netrakona, Sirajganj, Tangail and Khulna. All crew members are being held hostage by the pirates.
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, seamen Md Anwarul Haque, Md Asifur Rahman, Sazzad Hossain, Joy Mahmud, Nazmul Haque and Ainul Haque, oiler Mohamamd Shamsuddin, Ali Hossain, fireman Mosharraf Hossain Shakil, chief cook Shafiqul Islam, general steward Nur Uddin, and fitter Saleh Ahmed.
No contact yet with pirates
As of the latest updates, there has been no successful communication established with the pirates who commandeered the MV Abdullah, the cargo ship.
KSRM Group’s media officer, Mizanul Islam, confirmed that while the crew members were contacted earlier and found to be unharmed, the pirates have not yet initiated any contact. The ship is currently under the full control of the pirates and is navigating towards the Somali coast, with an estimated day remaining before reaching the coastline.
In such situations, it is typical for pirates to first secure their position within a safe zone before opening channels for negotiation or ransom demands. Mizanul Islam further explained that until the pirates reach out, the possibility of negotiating the release of the crew or the vessel remains non-existent.
A UK-based insurance company responsible for MV Abdullah has already begun the process of establishing contact through professional negotiators, which is the standard protocol in such maritime hostage situations. The safety and well-being of the crew remain the utmost priority, and all efforts are being directed towards a resolution that ensures their prompt and safe return.
Foreign Ministry working for safe hostage release
Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud stated that the government is collaborating with a “second party” to facilitate the safe release of hostages aboard the MV Abdullah, which was seized in the Indian Ocean on Monday. Mahmud addressed journalists at the Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban of Dhaka University, noting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s concern over the incident.
He mentioned that security agencies are actively involved, and the matter was informally discussed in a cabinet meeting. Mahmud further mentioned that the government has notified relevant authorities in information centers located in Kuala Lumpur, New Delhi, and Singapore, while also alerting naval vessels from the USA, the UK, India, and China.
Regarding negotiations with the pirates, Mahmud stated, “We are attempting to establish communication through an intermediary. As of now, direct contact with the pirates has not been established, but we have conveyed necessary information where required.”
Repetition of 2010 incident
Earlier, the Somali pirates seized another Bangladeshi vessel the MV Jahan Moni in the Arabian Sea back in December 2010. The ship, laden with 43,150 tonnes of nickel ore, was navigating some 170 nautical miles from Lakkha Island, India when the distressing news of its hijacking broke out.
The crew, comprising 25 sailors along with the chief engineer’s wife, was taken hostage. The ordeal lasted for an agonizing 100 days. During this time, the pirates demanded a ransom of nine million dollars, initiating a tense negotiation process that spanned over two months.
Ultimately, the ransom was settled at $4.72 million—$4.62 million for the release of the hostages and an additional $100,000 for fuel. Despite the managing director of SR Shipping, Mohammed Shahjahan, denying any ransom payment, it was speculated that the insurance company may have facilitated the transaction. The crew’s release was finally secured, and they were brought back home, marking the end of a perilous journey.
This resurgence of piracy poses a significant threat to maritime security in the region, marking a worrying trend after a period of relative dormancy. The international maritime community, including the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), has been alerted and is monitoring the situation closely. The situation underscores the ongoing risks faced by seafarers and the need for robust security measures in piracy-prone waters.
