Bangladeshi vessel with 31 sailors stranded near Strait of Hormuz

A Bangladeshi cargo vessel carrying 31 sailors has been stranded near the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions in the Persian Gulf following the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East.

The vessel, MV Banglar Joyjatra, owned by the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC), attempted to cross the strategic waterway while returning home but was forced to turn back due to security risks and fears of missile attacks.

BSC has sought diplomatic assistance from the Ministry of Shipping, Bangladesh to ensure the vessel’s safe movement, its managing director Commodore Mahmudul Malek confirmed.

According to ship-tracking platform MarineTraffic, the vessel is currently anchored off the coast of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

BSC officials said the ship entered the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz on February 2 carrying cargo from India. It later loaded steel coils in Qatar and delivered them to Jebel Ali Port in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

However, regional tensions escalated after joint strikes by the United States and Israel targeting Iran. As the situation worsened, the vessel abandoned plans for new cargo and attempted to leave the Gulf.

Crew members said the ship reached about 66 nautical miles from the strait’s entrance on March 12 when reports of missile activity emerged. The UAE Coast Guard then advised it to move to a safer location, prompting it to return and anchor near Sharjah.

Captain Md Shafiqul Islam said shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has largely halted due to security threats, including missile and drone attacks on vessels.

BSC Managing Director Mahmudul Malek said all sailors are safe and the ship has sufficient food, water and fuel to remain at sea for several months if needed.

Meanwhile, Iran’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi, said Tehran is willing to assist Bangladeshi energy vessels in safely crossing the Strait of Hormuz if necessary.

Bangladesh faced a similar crisis in 2022 when the BSC vessel MV Banglar Samriddhi was hit by a missile at Olvia Port during the Russia-Ukraine War, killing Bangladeshi engineer Hadiur Rahman.