Bangladeshi Vessel ‘MV Banglar Joyjatra’ Stranded Near UAE Amid Hormuz Tensions

Crew members aboard the Bangladeshi commercial vessel MV Banglar Joyjatra say they are living under constant fear as the ship remains stranded near the United Arab Emirates amid escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz.

Chief Engineer Rashidul Hasan told that the crew members are receiving repeated missile attack warnings on their mobile phones.

“We are constantly receiving alerts through wireless networks,” he said. “The messages warn that anyone attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz will be attacked.”

The vessel carries a total of 31 crew members, including sailors and engineers. Several crew members said they have witnessed repeated missile strikes since the Iran conflict began and have even seen debris from destroyed missiles falling onto nearby ships.

Under such circumstances, the Bangladeshi sailors say they have no idea when they will be able to safely cross the Strait of Hormuz and leave the Gulf region.

Captain Md. Shafiqul Islam said on Wednesday, “We are trapped in a place that can be compared to a pond. There is only one exit route for us, and that is through the Strait of Hormuz. We do not know when we will be able to leave.”

Officials aboard the vessel said at least 2,273 ships belonging to companies from around the world — including vessels from the United Kingdom and Israel — are currently waiting for permission to pass through the strait.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) said the government has contacted Iran several times through diplomatic channels in an effort to secure safe passage for the stranded vessel.

BSC Managing Director Commodore Mahmudul Malek said, “We had reached a stage where discussions with Iran could have enabled the Bangladeshi ship to leave safely. But renewed tensions have created further uncertainty.”

On Wednesday, the naval branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that the Strait of Hormuz could be reopened if what it called “aggressors” stop their threats.

The Bangladeshi commercial vessel MV Banglar Joyjatra entered Middle Eastern waters on January 26. Since the outbreak of the Iran conflict, the ship has reportedly made several unsuccessful attempts to leave through the Strait of Hormuz and has since been moving through different waters in the Middle East.