In a period of 11 months this year, as many as 11 incidents of piracy and ship robbery have been reported in the Bangladesh waters as compared to only one in 2023 and five in 2022, raising concerns among the stakeholders.
Four of the incidents were of category two, three of category four, one of category three, and the category of three other incidents could not be ascertained, according to the Information Sharing Centre (ISC) of an intergovernmental regional body.
Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP) said that a significant increase in such incidents has turned into a big concern for ships to operate through the Bangladeshi waters.
The first attempted incident occurred in January this year in Kutubdia area, near the Chittagong Port, while the second one took place in February at the inner anchorage of the port in a container ship.
In another incident, four perpetrators boarded a container ship in February, stole a rope and escaped. In the same month while anchored, perpetrators boarded an oil tanker from a country boat, tied up the watchman and stole ship stores.
The incident was reported to the Bangladesh authorities concerned who responded immediately and apprehended nine perpetrators. The Bangladesh authorities also recovered all the items stolen from the ship stores and handed over to the ship, according to the ReCAAP ISC.
On March 3, a Liberian flag carrier chemical/gas tanker was attacked at the Hiron point in Mongla where 8-10 perpetrators armed with long knives boarded the ship using hooks at the port forward of the ship, and managed to escape onboard a country boat. Upon inspection, it was found that the heave lines and messenger lines were stolen.
A bulk carrier ship was attacked at the Chittagong Port anchorage on March 28, where eight perpetrators armed with knives boarded the ship and escaped with stolen items from the ship store.
Among other category-two incidents, the pirates on October 12 boarded another bulk carrier at Kutubdia anchorage and left with some personal valuables and some ship properties.
The ReCAAP ISC in its January-September quarterly report said that in response to the growing number of incidents, the Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG), Bangladesh Department of Shipping and port authorities have enhanced their maritime patrol/presence and imposed restrictions in ports, anchorages and outer anchorages, including the prohibition of the country boats, fishing boats and motor boats from operating or coming alongside anchored ships without any valid documents.
The barter trade is also prohibited in the port, anchorages and outer anchorage areas in Bangladesh, it said.
In barter trade, the ship crews engage in any form of informal exchange of ship stores and equipment with individuals who may be involved in illicit activities like theft or smuggling.
"The situation poses risks not only to the crew members involved but also to the safety of operations within the busy port of Chittagong, which is a crucial hub for international trade in Bangladesh,' said the ReCAAP ISC.
Reports from the BCG and the Bangladesh Port Authorities suggest that such illegal activities, including barter trading with suspected thieves, are becoming more common in the port areas in Bangladesh.
This raises concerns about security protocols at the port and the potential risks posed to ship crew and ships, as well as increase in incidents of theft, or other criminal activities, said the regional body.
Contacted over telephone on Sunday, a senior BCG official did not comment on the issue.
syful-islam@outlook.com