Seventeen Bangladeshi sailors of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation’s (BSC) vessel "MV Banglar Joyjatra" have returned home after being stranded in the Strait of Hormuz for nearly four months amid heightened security risks following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
The sailors arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka at 5:42pm on Tuesday after travelling from Durban, South Africa, via Dubai on an Emirates Airlines flight.
The remaining 14 crew members will return home later through Malaysia, BSC Managing Director Commodore Mahmudul Malek confirmed to Dhaka Tribune.
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune, Malek said the sailors departed Durban on Monday night on an Emirates flight and arrived in Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon via Dubai. They later left for their respective homes to reunite with their families.
According to BSC, those who returned include the vessel’s master, chief officer, engineers, cadets and ratings. Seventeen replacement crew members have already been sent to Durban and have taken over responsibilities on the ship.
BSC General Manager (Ship Personnel Department) Captain Ziaur Rahman said MV Banglar Joyjatra is expected to leave Durban within the next few days after completing its next cargo loading. The vessel’s next possible destination is Malaysia, from where the remaining 14 sailors will return home.
“Considering the sailors’ physical and mental condition after spending a prolonged period on board and enduring continuous hardship, we decided to bring back the first 17 crew members on a priority basis,” he said.
The Bangladesh-flagged bulk carrier remained stranded in the Persian Gulf region for around 115 days after security concerns escalated around the Strait of Hormuz due to the conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the strategic waterway.
The vessel reached the UAE’s Jebel Ali Port on February 27 carrying 38,800 tons of steel coils from Qatar’s Mesaieed Port. It became stranded along with its crew due to the conflict and restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz.
On June 23, MV Banglar Joyjatra crossed the Strait of Hormuz and reached Fujairah Port in the UAE. After refuelling and undergoing hull cleaning, the vessel later arrived at Durban Port in South Africa.
BSC sources said the bulk carrier joined the corporation’s fleet in 2018. The 39,000-ton-capacity vessel was built by China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation (CMC) and purchased through joint financing with the Chinese government.
