‘Banglar Joyjatra’ sailors return home after months trapped in Hormuz

The crew members of Bangladesh-flagged vessel Banglar Joyjatra, who were stranded for months in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran-Israel-US conflict, have safely returned home.

The sailors arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday evening (July 21) from Durban, South Africa, where they were received by officials of the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. Emotional scenes unfolded as family members welcomed the returning crew.

Speaking at a press briefing, the vessel's captain Md Shafiqul Islam described their safe return as "a second life."

"By the grace of Allah, we have returned safely. We are grateful to the people of Bangladesh for their prayers, support and constant concern during this difficult period," he said.

The captain recalled that many seafarers aboard vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf suffered severe mental distress during the prolonged crisis, while some reportedly lost their lives. Several ships also faced shortages of food and drinking water, and a number of vessels sank while attempting to navigate the conflict-hit waters.

He credited the Bangladesh government's timely decisions for ensuring the crew's safe return while preserving a valuable state asset. Despite repeated missile attacks in the surrounding area, the crew chose not to abandon the vessel after being advised to move to safety, prioritising the protection of the ship.

Recounting one of the most dangerous moments, Captain Shafiqul said a missile strike hit a neighbouring berth at Jebel Ali Port, setting a nearby oil tanker ablaze. Even six tugboats failed to contain the fire immediately, and an explosion in any of the tanker's 40 fuel tanks could have engulfed Banglar Joyjatra as well.

The vessel's then commanding officer Pronoy Krishna Sen said satellite-based navigation systems became unreliable during the conflict, forcing the crew to operate the ship manually. The presence of naval mines in nearby waters further heightened the danger, leaving virtually no room for navigational error.

According to BSC, Banglar Joyjatra entered the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz on February 2 and later loaded steel coils from Qatar before reaching Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates on February 27. A day later, the escalation of military strikes involving Iran, Israel and the United States left the vessel stranded in the Gulf for an extended period.

The crew has now safely returned to Bangladesh after enduring months in one of the world's most volatile maritime conflict zones.