The family members of Mohammad Shamsuddin, oiler of MV Abdullah which Somali pirates captured on Tuesday, have been spending their day in anxiety and awaiting updates since receiving news that he is being held hostage.
The vessel with 23 crew members carrying coal was en route to the UAE from Mozambique when it fell into the hands of pirates in the Indian Ocean.
Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers' Association General Secretary Shakhawat Hossain said on Wednesday the ship had picked up speed in the last five hours and could reach Somalia by Thursday morning at the current pace. “The ship is currently 170 miles from Somalia.”
Shamsuddin's brother-in-law Badrul Islam said the 40-year-old father of three daughters, hailing from Anwara upazila of Chittagong, was the only earning member of his family.
“He is the youngest of two brothers and two sisters. He last spoke to his loved ones at 5:40pm on Tuesday. He spoke to his mother at the time. He said pirates had taken control of the ship and were holding them hostage. ‘Every pirate has big weapons. We are afraid. Please pray for us.’”
“Shamsuddin joined Kabir Group’s ship two years ago. His elder daughter Ramisha Akhter is 12 years old, middle daughter Saeedah Akhter is six and the youngest, Saraiya Akhter, is two and a half years old,” Badrul said.
Shamsuddin's wife Rima Akhter said he had his last conversation with her on Tuesday afternoon. “He told me, ‘We are being held hostage by pirates. I do not know what will happen; tell everyone to pray for us. I am still fine.’”
“He is the only earning person in our family. We have three little girls. He would call the girls every day and inquire about them. We are worried about him,” Rima continued.
She urged the ship owners and the government to take immediate steps for the release of every hostage as soon as possible.
The Bangladeshi cargo ship MV Jahan Moni, carrying 26 crew members and a staggering 43,150 tons of nickel ore, faced a similar ordeal after being hijacked by Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea in 2010.
Although reports suggest the ransom for their release amounted to $4.62 million with an additional $100,000 for fuel, the ship's owners denied any payment.
On the morning of March 13, 2011, after nearly 100 days in captivity, the ordeal finally ended for the crew of MV Jahan Moni as they were released from captivity.
