A king's ransom buys hijacked ship, crew's freedom

A nightmarish ordeal for the crew, their families and the owners of the MV Abdullah ends as the Somali pirates freed the Bangladeshi-flagged cargo ship on a 'successful negotiation'.
Reports by newswires have said a king's ransom bought the hijacked ship and its 23 crew members' freedom. One report, quoting one of the dispersing pirates, says the payment amounted to US$5.0 million.
Owners would like to keep mum on the matter of payment, but they told a press conference in Chattagram Sunday that the ship along with the crew was released in early hours of the day, reports FE correspondent Nazimuddin Shyamol.
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, meanwhile, questioned the authenticity of a video showing an aircraft dropping three bagfuls of money that is circulating on social media and being labelled as the ransom paid for the rescue of the sailors of the MV Abdullah.
"I don't know which movie the clips are from. We see so many scenes like these in films. I don't know how the clips were edited or combined to create the video," the state minister said while speaking to the media on Sunday, after the new broke.
The vessel's owning company, KSRM Group, held a press conference at its head office at Barik Building in the port city on Sunday noon and disclosed that the ship and the crew got released after negotiation with the pirates ended successfully.
Addressing the press conference, KSRM Deputy Managing Director (DMD) Shahriar Jahan Rahat said, "The ship and the crew got released after negotiation with the pirates ended successfully."
Meherul Karim, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KSRM Group and chief of SR Shipping, narrated the total episode of ship hijack. "I have negotiated the matter with the pirates by following all international shipping laws and regulations. At last, we are successful to release the crew and ship from the capture of the pirates."
The sea robbers left the ship at 3.00 am Sunday. "After fulfilling their demands and a successful negotiation with the leader of pirates, all the 65 armed pirates left the ship by boats."
He had made contact with the pirates and negotiated with them in association with all concerned international organisations. They could trace the ship every hour by their special device in the ship. "So, the pirates could not go out from our vigilance. Moreover, we had experience of the previous abduction of another ship. So, we can handle pirates successfully," he told the press.
"All 23 crew on board are safe, in good health, and have been able to contact their relatives," he added.
Meherul Karim said the ship would reach the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on April 20. Later, the captain and its seamen will start for Bangladesh with the ship on April 24 or 25.
It is reported that after receiving 3 bagfuls of dollars, the pirates of Somalia left the MV Abdullah. However, the owner of the ship wouldn't say how many dollars were given to the pirates or how much they wanted. Answering a question from The Financial Express, Meherul Karim said he would not disclose anything in this regard as he is bound by an agreement that was signed by both parties.
Among others, DMD Karim Uddin and DMD Sarwar Jahan Rokon also talked at the press conference.
The MV Abdullah, owned by SR Shipping, a concern of reputed business group of the country KSRM Group, was 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 last. The ship was commandeered close to the coast of Somalia and all the seamen were taken hostage.
It is a second ship of KSRM group to have been abducted along with seamen, the first one sailing the route was hijacked in 2011.

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