Bangladeshi ship hijacked: Pirates are increasing pressure on sailors to stop international operations
Bangladeshi
ship hijacked: Pirates are increasing pressure
on sailors to stop international operations
The European Union and the Indian Navy have jointly increased pressure on the pirates to rescue the Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah, which was hijacked from the Indian Ocean. The pirates took the ship within one and a half nautical miles of the coast by changing its previous position. At the same time, they are increasing the pressure on the hostage sailors to prevent the two navies from conducting the operation.
The
country's senior sailor Captain Atiq UA Khan gave this information on Tuesday
(March 19) evening.
Captain
Atiq said the international navy has put MV Abdullah under much pressure
for the last two days. The warships positioned themselves within a mile and a
half of MV Abdullah. As a result, the pirates lifted the ship's anchor, went further inland, and anchored only one and a half miles from the shore. The
pirates also said that overdoing it would cause the ship to run ashore.
However, the two navies are still reporting their positions differently.
He
said, that due to the pressure of the Navy, the sailors now have to stay on the
ship's bridge for 24 hours. In addition, sometimes the Navy has to use VHF
(walkie-talkie) to request them not to approach.
Captain
Atiq also told about the internal conditions of the ship, "Most of the
pirates are now providing local food for themselves. The ship's food may last a
few days. On the other hand, the ship's sailors are also not having dinner to
keep the food going for longer.'
Now
basically Iftar and Sehri are being prepared for everyone. Avoiding the way
multiple curries are usually prepared on board ships.'- Captain Atiq.
Stating
that many of the sailors are suffering from skin allergies, he said, 'Water
rationing and always staying on the bridge makes it impossible for everyone to
take a bath and wash clothes regularly. As a result, some of the sailors
developed skin allergies. Besides, there is only one bathroom on the bridge.
which is being used by 25-30 pirates apart from 23 sailors. As a result, it is
becoming very difficult to clean and use the bathroom regularly, said the
sailors.
On
the other hand, Puntland Security Force (PSF), the security force of Puntland
State, a semi-autonomous region of Somalia, said it had arrested two pirates
who were transporting drugs for pirates in the MV Abdullah. PSF is ready to
provide all possible assistance to the joint forces in ending piracy.
However,
the Kabir Group and the government, which owns the ship, are giving utmost importance
to the safety of the seafarers. In this regard, Maritime Affairs Secretary of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rear Admiral (Retd.) Md. Khurshed Alam said,
'We are negotiating how to salvage the ship peacefully without
harming the sailors and crew.'
In
addition, Kabir Group, the owner of the ship, announced plans to appoint
'intermediaries' to rescue hijacked ships and hostage sailors.
Bangladeshi
Merchant Marine Officers Association President Captain M Anam Chowdhury said,
"Such an operation inside the Somalia coastline will be very risky."
As
many ships as were inside the Somalia coast, no ship could be freed without
peaceful negotiations. The Maltese ship Rouen, which was rescued by the Indian
forces, would not have been rescued if it had not left their coast.
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