Special Correspondent :
Somali pirates who seized the Bangladeshi-flagged MV Abdullah, with 23 crew members aboard, initiated contact with the vessel’s owners, marking a pivotal development in the ongoing hostage situation.
Mehedul Karim, CEO of KSRM Group, confirmed the communication, saying, “The pirates have contacted us today (Wednesday) through a third party for the first time.
An environment for discussion is now being established. We are committed to securing the safe release of the hostages and will proceed accordingly.”
The hijacking occurred on March 12th when pirates commandeered the Bangladesh-flagged ship MV Abdullah approximately 600 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia in the Indian Ocean.
Observers familiar with the situation speculate that the pirates may demand a ransom now that contact has been established.
Negotiations are anticipated to ensue, potentially leading to an agreement that secures the release of the ship and its crew.
Captain Anam Chowdhury, general secretary of the Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers’ Association, expressed optimism about the contact, stating, “The initiation of communication is a positive development as it ends a period of uncertainty.”
Anam added, “The pirates are likely to communicate their demands, and negotiations will ensue between them and the ship owners. Swift negotiation is crucial for the prompt and safe release of the crew.”
In a proactive measure, the ship owners revealed that they had already begun preparations for various negotiation processes through mediators even before the pirates initiated contact.
It was known that stakeholders and authorities from the government of Bangladesh have successfully established communication with the pirates who hijacked the MV Abdullah, carrying 23 crew members.
Commodore Mohammad Maksud Alam told The New Nation on Monday, “The vessel is currently positioned very close to the Somali coast.”
While refraining from disclosing further details due to strategic reasons, Commodore Alam assured that efforts are underway to resolve the matter promptly.
Earlier statements from SR Shipping authorities expressed anticipation for a swift resolution to the MV Abdullah crisis. Notably, the pirates have not yet demanded any ransom for the release of the 23 crew members and the ship, which was seized in the Indian Ocean.
Emphasising the critical importance of ensuring food and water supply for the crew, authorities have highlighted the urgent need to replenish provisions to prevent shortages.
In a statement to the media on Sunday, Meherul Karim, Chief Executive Officer of SR Shipping, reiterated the company’s stance against opting for a military operation on MV Abdullah, citing concerns about potential casualties among the crew members.
“The safety of our crew members is our top priority. We cannot risk the lives of our sailors, so we declined the proposal for a rescue operation,” he asserted.
Karim also mentioned that the ship’s captain communicated with the company via satellite phone on Sunday.
“The captain informed us that all the crew members are fine, and the pirates are behaving well with the hostages,” he said.
The MV Abdullah was en route from Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, to the United Arab Emirates with a cargo of 55,000 tonnes of coal when Somali pirates attacked and seized it on the evening of March 12th.
