CHATTOGRAM, Apr 16: Family members of the crew of the hijacked ship MV Abdullah are eagerly waiting for their near and dear ones as the Somali pirates released all 23 sailors along with the Bangladeshi flag carrier ship on Sunday.
The seamen are likely to return after the next 10 days, said concerned sources.
Talking with The Financial Express, Meherul Karim, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KSRM Group and chief of SR Shipping said, "MV Abdullah and its crew are set to arrive in Dubai on April 19 after their release by Somali pirates. It will take four to five days for formalities to be completed before the sailors can head back to Bangladesh.
He also said, "It is yet to be decided whether they will return by air or sea. The ship will return to Chattogram once the coal is released in the UAE and the sailors will decide for themselves how they want to return home."
Chief Officer Mohammad Atik Ullah Khan of the ship hailed from Chandanaish upazila of Chattogram lives with his mother, wife and three daughters in the NandanKanan area of the port city. His family members are very happy to hear the news of the release of the seamen and the ship.
Mina Azmin, wife of Mohammad Atik Ullah Khan said, I am thankful to Allah for releasing my husband and other seamen. I also convey my thanks to KSRM and SR Shipping Limited for handling the situation successfully."
Md Shamsad Begum, the mother of another seaman Sajjat Hossain of the ship, hailed from North Bandar area of Anwara Bairag Union in Chattogram expresses her gratitude to the authority for taking successful steps for rescuing the abducted seamen including her son.
Akhtar Uddin, father of other seaman Md. Asifur Rahman of Badalpura village said, "I am very happy to hear that my son is alive and he has been rescued. Now, I am waiting for his return home."
Bangladeshi flag carrier ship MV Abdullah owned by SR Shipping, a concern of the reputed business group of the country, KSRM Group has been captured by pirates in the Indian Ocean on its way to the United Arab Emirates with coal from the African country of Mozambique on March 12 and freed on April 14. There were 23 Bangladeshi sailors on that ship. All 23 seamen were taken hostage by the pirates.
The hostage 23 seamen are- Captain Mohammad Abdur Rashid, Chief Officer Mohammad Atik Ullah Khan, Second Officer Mazharul Islam Chowdhury, Third Officer Md. Tarekul Islam, Chief Engineer ASM Saiduzzaman, Second Engineer Md. Taufiqul Islam, Third Engineer Rokan Uddin, Fourth Engineer Tanveer Ahmed, Deck Cadet Md Sabbir Hossain, Engine Cadet Ayub Khan, Electrician Ibrahim Khalil Ullah, seamen Md. Anwarul Haque, Md. Asifur Rahman, Sajjad Hossain, Joy Mahmud, Md Nazmul Haque, Ainul Haque, Oiler Mohammad Shamsuddin, Md Ali Hossain, Fireman Mosharraf Hossain Shakeel, Chief Cook Md. Shafiqul Islam, Md. Noor Uddin and Fitter Md. Saleh Ahmed.
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