Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said the sailors of MV Abdullah – which was hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean along with 23 sailors on board – are fine, and they have plenty of food available.
Making the remark at the Awami League central office in the city’s Bangabandhu Avenue on Saturday afternoon, he said, "Sailors are in their cabins, and till now, nobody has mistreated them.
“Efforts are being made and talks are underway with the Somali pirates. As negotiations have progressed, we are optimistic that it will be possible to get them back home soon. In addition to the discussion, there is also pressure on the pirates.”
Mahmud assured that it is not possible to share any specific date for the crisis to end, but much progress has been made.”
On March 12, Bangladeshi flag carrier MV Abdullah – carrying 55,000 tons of coal from Mozambique to Dubai – was captured by Somali pirates. These abductors made first contact with the vessel’s owner on March 20.
Bangladesh has been making every effort imaginable to rescue the abducted sailors safely since negotiations opened.
