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ship sinks off India's odisha coast
Two children still waiting for father's video call
Satkhira's marine engineer Abdullah Al Mamun missing
Published : Monday, 24 August, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Observer Correspondent
Abdullah Al Mamun (35), a marine engineer from Satkhira, has been missing since a cargo ship sank off India’s Odisha coast in the Bay of Bengal. His family is anxiously waiting for news of him.
The gravity of the tragedy has yet to reach his two young children-five-year-old Mariful Jannat and three-year-old Moaz Abdullah. Whenever the phone rings, they rush to the screen hoping to see their father on a video call.
They know their father usually calls them by video from the sea when he gets a break from work. But for several days, the phone has not rung. They only know that their father may be busy working at sea and unable to call.
Abdullah Al Mamun, son of Dr. Abdur Rahim of Amtala in Satkhira municipality, was working aboard the Panama-flagged MV Ocean Winner. He has been missing since the vessel sank in the Bay of Bengal off the Indian coast after reportedly developing mechanical problems.
This was Mamun’s first contract as a fourth engineer. The Chinese-owned, Panama-flagged bulk carrier was carrying 1,700 tonnes of iron ore when it began listing to one side. The ship sank in just eight minutes.
The crew reportedly could not launch the lifeboats or obtain life jackets in time. The 28-year-old vessel had 24 crew members-20 Chinese nationals, three Burmese nationals and Mamun, the lone Bangladeshi from Satkhira. According to Indian media reports on Saturday, a joint rescue operation by the Indian Coast Guard and Navy rescued only two Chinese crew members, while the remaining 22 are still missing. As time passes, the chances of survival for those missing are diminishing, increasing the despair among their families.
Family members said Mamun last spoke to his wife by phone on Wednesday. The family learned about the shipwreck through another source on Saturday afternoon. Since then, relatives and neighbors have gathered at their home, with uncertainty and anxiety visible on everyone’s faces.
Mamun’s father, Dr. Abdur Rahim, said tearfully, “Even though my son was at sea, we remained in contact by phone. So much time has passed since the ship sank, yet we still have no news of whether he is alive. I earnestly appeal to the government to take immediate steps to rescue my son.”
Satkhira Deputy Commissioner Miz Kawsar Aziz said, "authorities contacted the missing engineer’s family as soon as they learned of the incident. Through the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and the Ministry of Shipping, communication is being maintained with the Indian rescue teams as well as through diplomatic channels. She said every possible effort is being made to obtain information about Mamun and provide it to his family as quickly as possible."
-MJR/MT
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
