KSRM authorities, owner of the hijacked Bangladesh-flagged cargo ship MV Abdullah, have initiated informal talks with Somali pirates through third party as part of their move to begin formal negotiation to rescue the crew members as well as the ship.
Somali pirates hijacked the ship with 23 crew member on board on March 12 when it was sailing from Maputo in Mozambique to Al Hamriyah in the UAE with 58,000 tonnes of coal, reports BSS.
"Informal talk is going on… it will take time to begin formal negotiation with the pirates," said Mizanul Islam, media adviser of KSRM Group.
On March 20, KSRM was able to contact the Somali pirates through a third party after the pirates took the control of the ship on March 12.
Talking to BSS, Mizanul said it is still a good news that the crew members are safe and in good health.
"We are hopeful regarding solving the crisis through discussion," he added.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Saturday said that the government is also trying to free the hijacked ship MV Abdullah and bring back its crew members safely as soon as possible.
"We are trying to rescue the sailors and the ship, making sure that they remain unharmed," he said while responding to questions from journalists in Chattogram, reports UNB.
The foreign minister said that when MV Jahan Moni was hijacked, it took 100 days to free the ship and the crew.
He said there is coal in MV Abdullah and it is a combustible material. "So, nothing can be done which could endanger the combustible material, and damage the ship."
"That is how we are proceeding and those who hijacked the ship have already contacted the owner. Various international organisations are also cooperating with us in this regard. Hope we can rescue the sailors soon," he added.
Meanwhile, Admiral R Hari Kumar, the chief of India’s Naval Staff, said on Saturday that the Indian Navy will take affirmative action to ensure there is safety and security in the Indian Ocean.
The Indian Navy is keeping a close watch on the hijacked Bangladeshi vessel MV Abdullah, he said.
"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 added.
