The priority now is the safe return of the 23 hostages of the Bangladeshi flag ship captured by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean. To rescue Bangladeshi hostages, the government should follow 'any' possible route including diplomatic channels to bring them back. Time is now to prove the capability of the government.
According to media sources, the ship owned by KSRM, a subsidiary of Chattogram's Kabir Group, was captured by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean on its way to the United Arab Emirates with coal from the South-Eastern African country of Mozambique. The message that came from the hostages soon after the attack worried the countrymen. Their families in the country are instantly helpless. Like hostages, they are a constant source of uncertainty. The families of the hostages are approaching the owners of the ship; the owners are trying their best, seeking the government's help.
Even if something happens at the individual level outside the country, the government has to deal with it. The government does. 23 Bangladeshi hostage incident took place on a commercial ship, and though the ship is not government owned, it is part of international trade, and flies the flag of Bangladesh. Here, the government should look at the matter seriously.
Officials of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Shipping have been active since the incident was informed about hope. An inter-ministerial meeting was also held to decide the course of action. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has also been informed about the matter. Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said on Wednesday, "We are trying through third parties and where necessary, we have informed. Already reporting center in Kuala Lumpur, Indian Fusion Center in New Delhi, then Singapore, USA, UK, China including all aerial naval ships reported. We are also trying to communicate through other sources. Let the government decide the strategy here. It is not for us to see and know whether there is a ransom issue here or not. The families and countrymen of the hostages are just waiting for their return.
About 600 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia, the pirate captured ship MV Abdullah today anchored about 20 nautical miles off the Garakad port off the coast of Somalia. Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers Association General Secretary Engineer Mohammad Shakhawat Hossain said about the International Maritime Bureau on Thursday afternoon. Company officials believe the pirates may take some time to communicate.
Ransom is the main reason for controlling ships by holding sailors hostage. How much is the ransom, how is it negotiated - the company that owns the ship MV Abdullah has gone through some experiences. A Kabir Steel Rolling Mills (KSRM) ship named 'MV Jahanmani' was hijacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean on December 5, 2010. 26 servicemen were taken hostage. They were released after 100 days. It is not known how and how much ransom was paid then. We think we don't even need to know, because the main point of interest is the release of the hostages.
At least 14 ships have been hijacked off the coast of Somalia in the three months from November last year to January this year, according to information provided by EUNAV for Atalanta, the EU naval force working on maritime security off the coast of East Africa. Among them, only fishermen and sailors of two ships of Iran and Liberia have been rescued. A Maltese-flagged ship was hijacked last December, which is still under the control of pirates, BBC Bangla reported. How dangerous this water border in East Africa is has come up in various data. It is known that only in 2018 there were 112 incidents of ship robbery. In the meantime, however, there is hope, in three operations in one week last January; the Indian Navy was able to free 11 Iranians and 8 Pakistanis who were held captive by Somali pirates.
How the Bangladeshi hostages will be freed from the hands of the pirates, whether the ransom will be paid is not the subject of public discussion. Countrymen just want to be reassured. Although it is time consuming, the capacity of the government is involved here. The previous time when another ship of the same company fell into the hands of pirates, it was the Awami League government, still so; As such, the government has experience in this matter. The experience of the veterans who were involved in various processes at that time can be utilized this time as well.
The vessel named 'MV Abdullah' is currently under the full control of the pirates. In such a situation, even with the help of a third party, force cannot be thought of here. 23 Bangladeshi hostages will remain in danger of losing their lives. In such a situation, the government's priority should be to bring them back anyway. The government must pass this test of proof of ability!