Bangladeshi Sailors Spend Eid Stranded at Sea Amid Gulf Tensions

Eid is usually a time for family, joy, and togetherness. But for 31 sailors aboard the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) vessel Banglar Joyjatra, this year’s Eid-ul-Azha was spent far from home, surrounded by the vast sea and uncertainty about when they would return to their loved ones.

On Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. local time, the Eid congregation was held on the ship’s navigation bridge. The prayers were led by the ship’s master, Captain Md. Shafiqul Islam Khan, with all crew members taking part. After the prayer, the sailors offered special prayers for their country, families, and loved ones. Yet one question lingered in everyone’s mind: when will they finally return home?

The crew had also spent the previous Eid-ul-Fitr at sea. At the time, they hoped to reunite with their families during Eid-ul-Azha. However, that hope faded amid growing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

Earlier, on February 27, Banglar Joyjatra arrived at Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates carrying steel coils from Qatar. The following day, renewed tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel escalated across the region. The crisis surrounding the Strait of Hormuz eventually left the Bangladeshi vessel stranded.

Although a ceasefire took effect on April 8, the ship has still not received permission to leave the Persian Gulf. Due to strict Iranian restrictions, the sailors have been unable to cross the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, several vessels from other countries have reportedly been allowed to move through the route after receiving clearance, but the Bangladeshi ship has yet to receive approval.

As the sailors’ families continue to wait anxiously at home, life aboard the ship has also come to a standstill. Eid meals, small celebrations, and exchanging greetings among colleagues brought brief moments of comfort, but failed to ease the uncertainty weighing heavily on everyone.

Captain Shafiqul Islam Khan said, “We still do not know when we will be able to cross the Strait of Hormuz. Being stranded at sea for such a long time has become mentally very difficult.”

After spending nearly three months trapped in the middle of an international political crisis, the 31 sailors are now counting the days. Every sunrise brings renewed anticipation, while every night carries a silent prayer to return home safely.