31 Bangladeshi sailors aboard Banglar Joyjatra spend second Eid stranded in Hormuz

Thirty-one Bangladeshi sailors stranded aboard state-owned vessel MV Banglar Joyjatra in the Strait of Hormuz spent Eid-ul-Adha at sea today (27 May), nearly three months after the ship became trapped amid the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel and Iran.

The Bangladesh-flagged vessel, owned by Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, has failed three times to cross the strategically important waterway since tensions escalated in the Middle East.

The crew members had earlier spent Eid-ul-Fitr onboard the vessel away from their families. Although the sailors said they had adequate food and water supplies, prolonged uncertainty, fears of missile and drone attacks, and the inability to disembark had created severe psychological stress.

"We have experienced staying at sea for months. Many of us return home after six months of sailing. But we have never faced a war situation like this before," one crew member told The Business Standard on condition of anonymity.

Another sailor said spending two consecutive Eids away from family had been emotionally difficult despite having sufficient facilities onboard.

"There is no shortage of food or other necessities, but we constantly worry about our families, and they are also worried about us," he said.

Managing Director of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) Commodore M Mahmudul Malek said the crew members were safe and living under normal conditions.

"Staying at sea is not new for sailors. All crew members are healthy, and their facilities have been enhanced. We are making our highest efforts to bring the vessel back safely," he said.

According to BSC sources, MV Banglar Joyjatra entered the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz on 2 February carrying cargo from India. After loading steel coils from a Qatari port, the vessel reached Jebel Ali port in the United Arab Emirates on 27 February.

The following day, the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran, leaving the vessel stranded in the region.

Cargo unloading at Jebel Ali was completed on 11 March. The vessel was initially scheduled to load new cargo from Kuwait, but BSC later decided to bring the ship back to Bangladesh due to the escalating conflict.

Authorities had hoped to move the vessel following ceasefire discussions in the region. However, repeated attempts to leave the area have failed.

The latest attempt took place on 17 April when the vessel sailed for around 40 hours from Saudi Arabia's Ras Al Khair port and approached the Strait of Hormuz. But after seeking permission from Iranian authorities to cross the channel, the request was reportedly denied.

The vessel was then redirected to the outer anchorage of Mina Saqr port in the UAE.

The ship is currently carrying around 37,000 tonnes of fertiliser and was expected to sail either to Cape Town or Mozambique, though its future voyage remains uncertain amid the ongoing regional instability.