The pirates, who hijacked the Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah with 23 crews on March 12, finally contacted the vessel’s owners on Wednesday, nine days after the incident.
Confirming the matter, KSRM Group Media Adviser Mizanul Islam said, “The pirates contacted us this afternoon, but they did not demand anything. We have talked about the crew and the ship in general.”
“Now the environment for discussion has been created. We hope to find a solution soon. They [pirates] informed us that all the crew members are safe and sound and they will not be tortured. They will again contact us soon,” he said.
On Tuesday night, veteran mariner Atique UA Khan, the captain of a merchant ship, said that navies of different countries have kept MV Abdullah under pressure in the past two days with warships taking positions within 1.5 miles of the ship.
“Due to this, pirates have moved the ship to only 1.5 miles away from the shore. Pirates have also said that if they face too much pressure, they will beach the ship. However, the navies of two countries are still informing us about their position,” he said.
Under the circumstances, the sailors of MV Abdullah are being forced to stay on the ship’s bridge for 24 hours and requesting the naval forces to not come closer via walkie-talkie. Maybe that is why the pirates have contacted the ship owners, Atique said.
Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers Association President Captain Anam Chowdhury said it was a positive sign that the pirates have started communication.
"I hope the owners and insurers will negotiate with the pirates to reach an agreement," he added.
On March 12, a group of Somalian pirates seized control of the Bangladesh-flagged cargo vessel 600 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia in the Indian Ocean, when it was carrying coal from Mozambique's Maputo port to Al Hamriyah Port in the UAE. Within three days, the ship, with its crew, was taken to the coast of Somalia.
MV Abdullah is owned by SR Shipping Lines, a sister company of Chattogram-based Kabir Steel and Rerolling Mill (KSRM) Group.
