Chattogram Correspondent

Operation ATALANTA, a European Union (EU) Maritime Security operation in the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, has engaged warships in pirate-prone areas.

In a post on X in the early hours of Friday, it also released three photos and a video of its operational activities.

The video shows, a helicopter hovering around the hijacked Bangladesh-flagged vessel MV Abdullah, which has now been kept anchored close to the Godobjiraan coast of Somalia.

ATTLANTA in the X post said since November 2023, multiple incidents related to piracy have taken place in the Area of Operations.

Three merchant vessels have been assaulted, one still under pirate control: MV ABDULLAH, it read.

Earlier, in a press release on March 14, ATLANTA said that it was continuing to monitor the piracy event involving the Bangladesh-flagged bulk carrier MV Abdullah.

The EU and Indian naval ships also approached MV Abdullah while it was being taken to the Somali coast after capturing on March 12.

However, the owning authority and the Bangladesh government didn’t agree on any raid that may put the lives of the captive crew members of MV Abdullah in danger.

On the other hand, negotiations to secure the release of the captured vessel and its 23 crew members are underway between Somali pirates and the vessel’s owning authority.

However, initial discussions have primarily focused on verifying the identities of both parties, with talks regarding ransom slated for a later stage, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Contacted, the owning authority Kabir Group’s Media Adviser Mizanul Islam said the initial discussion is a part of the ongoing process to reveal a way out of the crisis.

The main issue of ransom and freeing of the captive seamen is yet to be discussed, he said.

“We, both parties, are now being confirmed whether the discussion is going on between the right person or group,” Mizanul said refusing to detail the matter.

Mentionable, after eight days of hijacking the Bangladesh-flagged ship in the Indian Ocean, Somali pirates made first contact with the vessel’s owning company to initiate discussions regarding the release of the captured vessel and its crews on Wednesday afternoon.

The contact also helped the families of the crew members, who had endured agonising uncertainty during this period, to heave a sigh of relief.

Mentionable, MV Abdullah was hijacked with 23 Bangladeshi crew members on board in the Indian Ocean on 11 March while en route from Maputo Port in Mozambique to Al Hamriyah Port in Dubai, carrying 55,000 tonnes of thermal coal.

On 5 December 2010, Somali pirates seized another vessel, the MV Jahan Moni, which belonged to the same company. After enduring 99 days in captivity, the pirates eventually released the vessel, along with its 25 crew members and the wife of the chief engineer, Matiul Mawla.

The crew members finally returned to Chattogram on 21 March 2011, bringing an end to the agonising uncertainty that had plagued their loved ones for months.