A week have passed since the hijacking of the Bangladeshi-flagged cargo ship MV Abdullah, yet the pirates responsible have remained silent, with no contact established with the ship’s owner and no demands issued. This lack of communication has heightened anxiety among the crew and their families. The MV Abdullah, previously known as the “Golden Hawk,” belonged to Bangladesh’s KSRM Group fleet. On March 12, 2024, while transporting coal from Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates, the vessel was seized by pirates around 450 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia. The ship's crew comprises 23 Bangladeshi sailors, all currently held hostage.

The ship's owner, in an urgent effort to secure the safe return of both the vessel and its crew, has sought help from multiple media sources. Media Adviser Md Mizanul Islam of Kabir Group affirmed that all sailors on the hijacked ship are well. A sailor contacted the owners on Saturday to update them, but food supplies are dwindling as pirates share meals with the crew.

Family members of the 23 sailors held hostage are experiencing extreme anxiety. Shahanur Begum, mother of Captain Md Atiq Ullah Khan, expressed deep concerns as her son is the primary breadwinner for their family. “Atiq is the sole earner in our family. His pregnant wife fell ill due to the stress of his captivity and had to be hospitalized. We are deeply worried about our son and hope the government takes swift action to secure their release.”

The Kabir Group has dealt with similar circumstances in the past. 2010 saw Somali pirates take over their ship, the MV Jahan Mani, in the Arabian Sea. For a period of 100 days, twenty-five sailors from Bangladesh and 26 more people, including a captain's wife, were detained. On March 14, 2011, after a series of government actions and other attempts, the captives were ultimately freed and sent back to Bangladesh.

BOB Post