'Banglar Joyjatra' sailors return home after 4-month

The crew members of the Bangladesh-flagged cargo vessel Banglar Joyjatra has returned home safely after spending nearly four months stranded in the Strait of Hormuz due to the conflict of the Iran-Israel-US.

Arriving at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka on Tuesday evening after flying from Durban, South Africa, the sailors were welcomed by senior officials of the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC). 

Emotional reunions unfolded as family members embraced their loved ones after months of uncertainty.

Speaking at a press briefing at the airport, Captain Md. Shafiqul Islam described the ordeal as a life-changing experience.

"It feels as though we have been given a second chance at life. While missiles flew overhead and ships around us were sinking, we survived through the prayers of our fellow citizens and our own mental resilience," he added.

Captain Shafiqul recalled that the crew endured three months and 25 consecutive days under severe restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, living under the constant threat of escalating hostilities.

According to BSC, Banglar Joyjatra entered the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz on February 2 and later loaded steel coils from Qatar before reaching Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates on February 27. A day later, the escalation of military strikes involving Iran, Israel and the United States left the vessel stranded in the Gulf for an extended period.

The sailors have now safely returned to Bangladesh after enduring months in one of the world's most volatile maritime conflict zones. 

TF