Talks Underway To Rescue Hostage Ship Sailors: DoS DG

Commodore Mohammad Maqsood Alam, Director General of the Department of Shipping (DoS), emphasized that any operation aimed at freeing the hostages held by Somali pirates aboard the Bangladeshi ship 'MV Abdullah' cannot proceed without the consent of Bangladesh. Negotiations are presently underway to secure the release of the sailors and crew, with the final decision expected to require additional time.

He made these remarks regarding the presence of the European Union (EU) naval force near the hijacked Bangladeshi vessel 'MV Abdullah' on Friday (March 22).

It has been reported that the EU Naval Force warships are engaged in 'Operation Atalanta' to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia. On Thursday (March 21), 'Operation Atalanta' X account (formerly Twitter) shared visuals of their activities surrounding the Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah, indicating that the hostage situation is observable from the EU Naval Force warship.

Captain Anam Chowdhury, president of the Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers' Association (BMMOA), asserted that even with the deployment of EU Naval Force warships, they lack the authority to conduct raids on Bangladeshi ships without Bangladesh's consent. As of now, neither the Government of Bangladesh nor the ship owners have granted permission for a military operation to rescue the hostages.

He further highlighted that in the current scenario, pursuing a peaceful resolution is imperative. While the deployment of warships may exert psychological pressure on the pirates, any military intervention carries the risk of causing harm to sailors, vessels, and cargo. Nevertheless, the presence of warships could expedite the resolution of the hostage situation.

Meanwhile, the EU Naval Force's piracy risk assessment reported 25 incidents of hijacking or attempted hijacking since November 24, mostly involving small boats but including three commercial vessels. The Bangladeshi ship 'MV Abdullah' is the latest vessel to fall victim to Somali pirates, having been seized on March 12 in the Indian Ocean en route from Maputo Port in Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates. Currently, the ship is anchored 1.5 nautical miles off the coast of Godobjiraan in Somalia, with 23 Bangladeshi sailors and crew held captive.

Additionally, a joint team comprising Somali police and international naval forces is gearing up for a rescue operation. The Puntland region of Somalia, known for its numerous pirate groups, has its police force on high alert and ready to participate in operations against the pirates who have seized 'MV Abdullah'. On March 17, Puntland Police reported seizing a vehicle carrying drugs intended for the pirates aboard the Bangladeshi ship.