In a daring attack on Tuesday in the Indian Ocean, a Bangladesh-flagged cargo vessel, MV Abdullah, fell victim to Somali pirates, officials report. The vessel, en route to Al Hamriyah Port in the UAE from Mozambique's Maputo port with a cargo of coal, was seized around noon.

The vessel, owned by Bangladeshi organization SR Shipping Lines, a subsidiary of Chattogram-based Kabir Steel and Rerolling Mill (KSRM) Group, had 23 crew members onboard. According to KSRM's media adviser, Mizanul Islam, the crew members are currently confined to safe spaces within the ship while the pirates have taken control.

Captain Anam Chowdhury of the Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers' Association revealed that a distress message was received from one of the hostages via WhatsApp, stating that the pirates were heavily armed and the crew members were locked inside their cabins. Efforts are underway to establish communication with the captors and seek government assistance.

The vessel, previously known as Golden Hawk, was acquired by KSRM Group last year and is one of 23 vessels operated by the conglomerate. Among the crew members, 11 are from Chattogram. The identities of the crew members have been released, highlighting the diversity of roles onboard, ranging from captain and chief officer to cooks and engineers.

This incident brings back memories of a similar hijacking in 2010, when MV Jahan Moni, another vessel affiliated with SR Shipping's sister concern, fell prey to pirates in the Arabian Sea. Twenty-five crew members and the wife of the chief officer were held captive for nearly 100 days before being rescued.
 

BOB Post