Negotiation through a third party was going on over the release of the hijacked Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah and its 23 crew members until Sunday, four days after the pirates communicated through the third party.
‘We have regular communications with the pirates through a third party, but no remarkable progress has been made yet that can be shared with the media. The ransom amount has also not been fixed yet,’ said Mizanul Islam, spokesperson of SR Shipping, the owing company of the hijacked ship.
‘The process takes time, and it might not be possible before Eid-ul-Fitr. We are also in touch with the hostages regularly to get updates about their health and security,’ he added.
He said that from the beginning of the crisis, the owner group had prioritised the safety and security of the hostages.
‘In this regard, we maintained regular communication with the families,’ Mizan said, adding that, ‘Yesterday [Saturday], we met with families again and had iftar together and assured them to bring all the crew safely.
On March 12, armed pirates took control of the MV Abdullah when it was heading for Al Hamriyah Port in the United Arab Emirates, loaded with a cargo of coal from Mozambique’s Maputo port.
The pirates made their first contact with SR Shipping owners on March 20 through a third party but did not seek any ransom initially.
The vessel, belonging to the sister concern of Chattogram-based Kabir Steel and Rerolling Mill Group, was carrying around 58 thousand tonnes of coal.
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