Bangladesh
Somali Pirates The aim is to free ships and sailors from the hands of pirates: Foreign Minister
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, 14 March 2024: Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmood said, "Our aim is to rescue the sailors, including the ship MV Abdullah, which is in the hands of pirates. For that purpose, the Piracy Reporting Center in Kuala Lumpur, the Indian Fusion Center in New Delhi, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operation (UKMTO) and The office in Singapore has been notified under the Agreement on Regional Cooperation in Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery in Asia."
He also said that the condition of the Bangladeshi ship has also been reported to the ships of UK, USA, India and China operating in that region.
The minister said this when journalists asked about the incident of the capture of the ship MV Abdullah from Mozambique to Dubai by Somali pirates at around 1:30 PM Bangladesh time last Tuesday and the capture of 23 Bangladeshi sailors at the Dhaka University (DU) senate building in the capital on Wednesday.
He said, the incident is very sad. The Prime Minister is very concerned about this and it has been informally discussed in the Cabinet meeting. In response to another question, the foreign minister said that no 'formal' communication has been established with the pirates, communication is being done through other parties. Intelligence agencies are working on it. Earlier also a ship of the same company was taken over by pirates. The ship and crew were rescued three months later.
Earlier, on the occasion of International Women's Day 2024, Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud gave a speech as the chief guest at the seminar organized by Bangmata Sheikh Fazilatun Nessa Center for Gender and Development Studies of the University at DU Senate Building Auditorium.
