The 23 crew members of MV Abdullah, which was released on April 14 after 31 days of captivity by Somali pirates, finally met their families as the vessel reached the Chattogram port on Tuesday afternoon.
The crew members received a warm welcome when vessel MV MV Jahan Moni-3 carrying them from Kutubdia in Cox’s Bazar reached New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT)-1 of the port around 3:45 pm.
Relatives had been waiting for the sailors’ safe return and the long wait ended on Tuesday. Relatives gathered at the port jetty with flowers. Omar Faruk, secretary to Chattogram Port Authorities (CPA) greeted the crew with flowers.
When MV Jahan Moni-3 anchored the jetty in the afternoon three tugboats guarded the vessel to ensure security of the crew members.
The ship’s Captain Mohammad Abdur Rashid, said, “We hadn’t anticipated such a swift return home, but we stayed strong mentally. We believed KSRM Group would bring us back, and they did.”
“The pirates did not torture us. We are all fine,” he added.
He also expressed his gratitude to the countrymen.
Witnesses said the scene at the Chattogram Port’s New Mooring Container Terminal was unusual for a Tuesday afternoon. In amongst the bustle of sailors and dockworkers, a group of families waited with bated breath. The media had gathered as well, as the tired but spirited crewmembers of MV Abdullah ended the journey that took them to the cusp of grave danger and brought them back to safety.
The family members, who gathered at the port, were elated to see their loved ones return home about a month after the ship was released by Somali pirates. Jannatul Ferdous, wife of crewman Noor Uddin, had been waiting with teary eyes and a smile on her face. “I am so glad that my husband has come back to us. I didn’t think I would be able to see him again...,” she said. Jannatul, along with her two-and-a-half-year-old son Saad Bin Noor, came to the port this afternoon to receive Noor Uddin.
When Noor Uddin finally got down from the ship, he picked his son up into his arms and showered him with kisses.
Like Noor Uddin, it was an emotional moment for Atiqullah Khan as well. He is an officer of MV Abdullah.
He was seen hugging his two daughters, Yashra Fatema and Unaiya Mahbin.
“Words cannot express my feelings. I am so happy to be able to see my daughters again,” he said.
Recalling the day of their release, Atiqullah said, “The pirates were very restless on the day; they were feeling insecure. Their main goal was to escape safely.”
Earlier, MV Abdullah left for Chattogram from Kutubdia point in Cox’s Bazar around 2 pm.
Deputy managing director of KSRM Shahrier Zahan Rahat, officials, and port officials also gathered at the port to receive them.
Later, the port authorities organised a brief programme on this occasion where Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Rezaul Karim Chowdhury was present among others.
Abdun Nur Khan Asif, younger brother of Chief Officer of the vessel Atiqullah Khan, said “I can’t express in words how happy we are that my elder brother is back. The whole family was waiting for this day.”
Mizanul Islam, media adviser of KSRM, said the crew members will go to their respective homes and all preparation was taken to send them to their destinations safely.
New crew members will take the charge of the vessel MV Abdullah today, he said.
The vessel, which was hijacked for 33 days, departed Al-Hamriya Port in the United Arab Emirates for Bangladesh on April 28 after unloading 55,000 metric tonnes of coal.
MV Abdullah initially anchored at the UAE port on the evening of April 22, following its release from pirates’ captivity.
The ship first arrived at the outer anchorage of the port on April 21, following its ordeal which began on March 12 when it was seized by Somali pirates about 600 nautical miles off the Somali coast en route from Mozambique to Dubai.
The pirates took control of the vessel and its crew, holding them until a ransom of Tk 55 crore facilitated their release on the night of April 13.
