Staff Reporter :
The 23 Bangladeshi crew members of the MV Abdullah were released on Sunday after 33 days of captivity by Somali pirates.
Their freedom reportedly came at a price of a five million-dollar ransom, though the Bangladeshi government maintains no knowledge of such a payment.
The KSRM Group, which owns the ship, confirmed the crew’s safe return and the ship’s journey towards Al Hamriyah Port in Dubai.
Two European Union Navy warships are currently escorting the MV Abdullah, which is expected to reach port by April 21st. It will then return to Chattogram a week later.
While the KSRM Group has not commented on the ransom, the issue has become a point of contention.
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury firmly denied any government involvement in a ransom payment, saying, “We see such images in various movies. I do not know how or where the image was collected and edited.”
This denial comes amidst reports and a video circulating that allegedly depicts a plane dropping something into the sea, believed to be the ransom money.
Despite the controversy surrounding the ransom, State Minister Khalid did acknowledge the collaborative efforts that secured the crew’s release.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Directorate of Shipping, and the international maritime wings have jointly worked to free the sailors quickly,” he added.
However, these claims are seemingly contradicted by Somali pirate Abdirashiid Yusuf, who spoke to Reuters.
Yusuf stated, “The money was brought to us two nights ago as usual. We checked whether the money was fake or not.
Then we divided the money into groups and left, avoiding the government forces.”
He further said that the ship had been released with all its crew.
“The money was brought to us two nights ago as usual… We checked whether the money was fake or not.
Then we divided the money into groups and left, avoiding the government forces,” he said.