CHATTOGRAM, Apr 19: The Bangladeshi flag-carrier ship MV Abdullah which was hijacked by Somali pirates on March 12 this year and released after 32 days on April 14 is now heading towards the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is scheduled to arrive at Al Hamriya sea- port in Dubai on Monday.
Talking to The Financial Express, Meherul Karim, chief executive officer (CEO) of KSRM Group and chief of the SR Shipping said, "MV Abdullah and its crew are set to arrive in Dubai on April 22 after their release by Somali pirates. It will take a few days there for formalities to be completed before the sailors can head back to Bangladesh. The sailors may reach Bangladesh within the current month."
He said, "Once all formalities are completed, the sailors will head back home after four to five days by plane or ship after reaching the UAE on April 22. We have not decided whether they will return by air or sea. The ship will return to Chattogram once the coal is released. The sailors will decide for themselves how they want to return home."
Now, the family members and relatives are eagerly waiting for their return home.
The abducted seamen are likely to return to Bangladesh within the current month after completion of all formalities.
It may be mentioned that Bangladeshi flag carrier ship MV Abdullah owned by SR Shipping, a concern of the country's reputed business conglomerate KSRM Group, was captured by pirates in the Indian Ocean on its way to the UAE with coal from the African country of Mozambique on March 12 this year.
There were 23 Bangladeshi sailors on the ship. All the 23 seamen were taken hostage by the pirates. It was the second ship of KSRM Group to have been hijacked along with seamen.
After 32 days of capturing MV Abdullah, the Somali pirates released the vessel and all its 23 crew members at 3am on April 14 last.
