'Pirates make first contact with MV Abdullah owners'

The Somali pirates who hijacked Bangladeshi-flagged ship MV Abdullah have made contact with the vessel's owners eight days after the vessel was taken over.

Kabir Group spokesman Mizanul Islam shared the information on Wednesday.

He said that the pirates made contact through a third party, however, no ransom demand was placed yet.

MV Abdullah was hijacked on March 12 with 23 Bangladeshi sailors on board.

The ship had set sail for the United Arab Emirates from Mozambique's Maputo port, carrying coal along the Indian Ocean. Once it was hijacked, the vessel reached the coast of Somalia on March 14 under the control of the pirates. Its location has since changed.

The owner, SR Shipping, a subsidiary of the Kabir Group, has reached out to various media outlets seeking assistance in securing the safe return of the ship and its crew.

The fate of the 23 crew members still remains uncertain even though they are safe till filing the report.

Earlier, Bangladesh government has not responded to an offer of assistance from the European Union's anti-piracy operation, "Atalanta".

Maritime experts warn that a military operation in Somali waters could be disastrous.

The ship's owner, Kabir Group, prioritises the crew's safety and firmly rejects any military intervention.