Staff Reporter:
Somali pirates have seized control of another Bangladesh-flagged ocean-going ship, the MV Abdullah, in a span of more than thirteen years.
On 12 March, the bulk carrier of SR Shipping, a concern of Kabir Group, was hijacked with 23 crew members on board far from the coast in the Indian Ocean in the same style the MV Jahan Moni, belonging to the same company, had been hijacked in 2010. Even both ships were anchored off the Garacad coast after three days of the incident.
Under the circumstances, Bangladeshi ship traders have demanded tightening of security measures by global stakeholders in the chaotic waterways.
It was 3pm on 5 December 2010. Somalian pirates seized control of the MV Jahan Moni around 300 nautical miles off Lakshadweep.
Around 1pm on 12 March 2024, the pirates hijacked the MV Abdullah over 500 nautical miles off the Somalian coast. The ship, carrying 55,000 tonnes of thermal coal, was on its way to Al Hamriyah Port in Dubai from Maputo Port in Mozambique.
Three separate warring groups control the nearly 3,500km-long Somali coast. Due to the civil war, the Somalian government has no control over these pirate groups. Since there is no scope for anchoring hijacked ships in the country’s recognised ports, the groups usually drop anchors of the ships close to the coast they control.
On 15 March afternoon, they also moved the MV Abdullah to their controlled region in fear of the rivals’ attack.
Meanwhile, Bangladeshi ship traders have become worried about the repeated attacks of pirates in the Indian Ocean.
Bangladesh Shipping Agent’s Association Chairman Syed Mohammad Arif said, “Pirate attacks are frequent in the Indian Ocean. They have a syndicate who do the same thing over and over again.”
He, however, called on the government to take the initiative to raise the issue on global platforms over strengthening security in that region.
In the case of the MV Jahan Moni, 25 crew members and the wife of the chief engineer were released after paying the ransom following 99 days of captivity.
