Somali Pirates on board the hijacked ship MV Abdullah. They have demanded an enormous ransom of $5 million (₹420 million). It is in exchange for the release of 23 members of the Bangladeshi crew held hostage.
The hijacked ship, which was carrying the flag of Bangladesh. It was taken over by pirates earlier this month while it was traveling from Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates. The pirates then took the ship to Somalia.
In response to the piracy attack on March 14, the Indian Navy quickly deployed a warship. Along with a long-range maritime patrol aircraft to intercept the hijacked vessel. They made sure that the captured Bangladeshi crew were initially safe. Also, stayed close to the ship until it reached Somalia’s territorial waters.
Adm R Hari Kumar, the chief of the Indian Navy, said that since the Indian Navy MV Abdullah was brought to Somalia, the navy has been continuously observing its condition. He underlined how pirates might use the hijacked ship as a “mother ship.”
The Bangladeshi government and the ship’s owner have refused offers from the Indian Navy MV Abdullah, and the European Union to carry out rescue operations on MV Abdullah. The pirates constantly communicate with the ship owner and request a ransom in exchange for the crew’s release.
Somali Pirates Seek Ransom Owner Opposes Forceful Rescue
Captain Sakhawat Hossain, the general secretary of the Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers Association, confirmed that every sailor is doing well, and some have even contacted their families. The pirates are positioned inside the ship, anchored near the coast.
The pirates have hired an English-speaking intermediary to settle a ransom with the ship’s owner. Negotiations are still in progress, but no deal has been struck yet.
According to reports, Somali pirates equipped with heavy artillery fired warning rounds as European Union naval forces approached the MV Abdullah. There are growing concerns about the crew’s health due to a lack of necessary supplies.
Despite the presence of armed troops on the ship. The owner, the Kabir Group, remains committed to seeking a peaceful conclusion for the sailors’ safe return. They are against any armed campaign that could compromise the crew’s safety.
Shakhawat Hossain, general secretary of the Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers’ Association. He highlighted the value of peaceable conflict resolution while pointing out that military action puts seamen, ships, and their cargo at risk. He disclosed that the EU naval force was psychologically putting pressure on the pirates.
Still, he emphasized that foreign operations involving Bangladeshi ships would require Bangladesh’s approval. As things develop, protecting the crew’s safety and arranging their release via diplomatic channels will continue to be the priorities.
