The Indian Navy is keeping a close watch on the hostage Bangladeshi ships
Last Updated on March 25, 2024 3:56 am
The Indian Navy has said that it is keeping a close watch on the Bangladeshi flagged ship MV Abdullah, which is under the control of Somali pirates.
In a press conference in the country’s capital New Delhi on Saturday (March 23), the country’s navy chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar said, “You know that the Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah has been hijacked and taken to Somalia.” We are keeping a close eye on it.
He said that it is being monitored whether the pirates will use the hijacked ship for themselves or use it as a mother vessel. In addition, ships operating in Somali waters are being monitored more closely.
Admiral R Hari Kumar said the Indian Navy will take positive steps to make the Indian Ocean more secure and safe. He presented information on the anti-piracy and other maritime security operations undertaken by the Navy in the last 100 days.
The Indian Navy has conducted anti-piracy, anti-missile and anti-drone operations as part of maritime security operations, media outlet NDTV reported.
According to the Navy, 110 lives have been saved in these operations conducted under Operation Sankalp. Out of these rescued people, 45 are Indians and the remaining 65 are foreign nationals.
Earlier, Al-Jazeera reported that 35 Somali pirates arrested on charges of hijacking ships at sea have been brought to Mumbai port in India. They were brought to India days after a merchant ship was rescued by the Indian Navy.
In a statement, the Indian Navy said the warship INS Kolkata, which led the rescue operation, anchored in India’s commercial capital Mumbai early Saturday morning.
It is to be noted that the Bangladeshi-flagged ship fell into the hands of pirates in the Indian Ocean on its way to the United Arab Emirates with coal from the African country of Mozambique. On March 12, Somali pirates took control of the coal-carrying ship, which was 450 nautical miles from the coast. SR Shipping, owned by KSRM Group, transports goods by sea. The ship has a total of 23 sailors. 11 of them are residents of Chittagong. The rest are from different districts including Noakhali, Feni, Faridpur, Khulna, Sirajganj.
Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers Association President Captain Anam Chowdhury told the media that it may take a long time to release the ship with all the sailors after completing various processes. In this case, along with diplomatic activity, compromise is the main way of liberation.
Former Marine Captain Mohammad Ziaul Haque told the media that it may take 1 to 4 months to release the sailors after completing all the procedures. Because there are many processes including negotiation after ransom demand.