CHATTOGRAM Apr 28: The Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah left the United Arab Emirates Port for Chattogram with 23 sailors on board on Sunday.
The ship had been hijacked by the Somali pirates on March 12 which was released on April 14.
The ship was on its way to Mina Saqr Port in the UAE to take some goods after unloading its cargo at Al Hamriya Port in Dubai on Saturday, said Mizanul Islam, a spokesperson of KSRM Group.
All 23 sailors on board will return to the country, Mizanul said and added they are expected to arrive by mid-May.
On March 12, Somali pirates seized control of the MV Abdullah and took the 23 sailors hostage.
The vessel was transporting 55,000 tonnes of coal from Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates at the time.
After capturing the vessel, the pirates moved it to the Somali coast and regularly changed its position. Nine days after the vessel was hijacked, the pirates contacted the owners through a third party. They were released after one month in captivity.
Mizanul Islam said the loading operations were completed on Saturday and the vessel is now ready to embark on its journey back to Bangladesh.
MV Abdullah initially anchored at the UAE port on the evening of April 22, following its release from captivity.
Mohammad Abu Jafar, Bangladesh Ambassador to UAE, and officials from SR Shipping, the vessels operating company, were present to welcome the crew upon their arrival.
The ship first arrived at the outer anchorage of the port on April 21, following its ordeal which began on March 12 when it was seized by Somali pirates about 600 nautical miles off the Somali coast en route from Mozambique to Dubai.
Following the release, MV Abdullah headed to Al-Hamriya Port under the escort of an EU NAVFOR warship, navigating through approximately 480 nautical miles of high-risk areas along the Somali coast and the Red Sea before reaching the safety of the United Arab Emirates.
This voyage marks a significant step towards recovery after the harrowing pirate attack, with the crew looking forward to a safe return to their homeland.
The crew members are Captain Mohammad Abdur Rashid, Chief Officer Mohammad Atikullah Khan, Second Officer Mazharul Islam Chowdhury, Third Officer Tarequl Islam, Deck Cadet Sabbir Hossain, Chief Engineer ASM Saiduzzaman, Second Officer Toufiqul Islam, Third Engineer Rokon Uddin, Fourth Engineer Tanvir Ahmed, Engine Cadet Ayub Khan, electrician Ibrahim Khalil, seaman Md Anwarul Haque, seaman Md Asifur Rahman, seaman Sazzad Hossain, seaman Joy Mahmud, seaman Nazmul Haque, seaman Ainul Haque, oiler Mohamamd Shamsuddin, Ali Hossain, fireman Mosharraf Hossain Shakil, chief cook Shafiqul Islam, general steward Nur Uddin, and fitter Saleh Ahmed.
KSRM owns 23 ships - all operating on international routes. In 2010, one of the ships, MV Zahan Moni, was hijacked and was later released by Somali pirates on payment of ransom.
