The owner is confirmed that the person who called from the Bangladeshi hostage ship was a genuine representative of the pirates. The call was made for the first time last Wednesday (March 20) 9 days after the Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah was taken hostage. After that there was further discussion with them. Through this, the owner has been able to be 100% sure that the phone came from the bandits.
Mizanul Islam, Media Advisor of Kabir Group, the owner of the ship, confirmed this to Barta24.com. He said, 'Naturally there was doubt in the beginning. However, after discussion, we confirmed that the bandits were contacting us. However, nothing has been said about ransom or demands on their behalf.'
Almost 14 years ago on December 5, 2010, another ship named MV Jahan Mani owned by the same owner fell into the hands of bandits. The Bangladeshi-flagged ship was ransomed seven days after it was hijacked. And within 40 days the compromise is done. The ship with 25 sailors kidnapped for ransom was released within 99 days. But before that, some crooks took advantage of the ship's hostage. In particular, an impostor named 'Pani Shah' misled the ship's owner by claiming that he had reached Somalia by river with divine powers. Although law enforcement later verified his call list, the call was made from Patenga in Chattogram city, not Somalia. Another influential person also misled the owners. Naturally so this time there was some skepticism after communication from the bandits. Although later it was cut.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, the top officials of the ship owner spoke to the family members of the 23 sailors of the hostage ship. They also took iftar together at the company's office in Agrabad, Chattogram. At this time, the family members of the sailors were assured that they would be brought back safely soon.
On March 12, pirates hijacked the Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah in the Indian Ocean, 600 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia. All 23 sailors on board are Bangladeshis. The ship was later taken ashore by the bandits. Then they moved the ship in several stages. The ship is currently anchored one and a half nautical miles off the coast of Gadhavjiran, Somalia.
The owners have been trying since the beginning to bring back the sailors through negotiations. However, the European Union (EU) Naval Force has deployed a warship near the hostage Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah. This information was reported on the X account of the EU Naval Force last Thursday night. Besides, their helicopters also circled the hostage ship though the owners have been objecting to the military operation there.
In this regard, media advisor of Kabir Group, Mizanul Islam said, "We are giving utmost importance to the safety of sailors. That is why we do not support any kind of military action. We want to free the sailors through peaceful negotiations.
Will the sailors be freed through negotiations, or will the release be opened up in a military operation?