International Desk: The Maritime Security Force of the European Union (EU) has tracked the Bangladeshi ship 'MV Abdullah', which was held hostage by Somali pirates.

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The EU Naval Force announced this in a statement on Thursday (March 14).

EU navies said an EU warship deployed as part of Operation Atlanta was shadowing the vessel. The pirates took 23 crew members hostage. With the hostages safe, the ship heads for the coast of Somalia.

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Moreover, the EU's naval forces have continued to communicate with the authorities in Bangladesh and Somalia. Besides, they are trying to take the most effective action in coordination with other regional forces, including the Indian Navy, which is in the security of that area of ​​the Indian Ocean.

British maritime security company Ambre said armed attackers took control of the ship while it was en route from Maputo, the capital of Mozambique, to Hamria in the United Arab Emirates.

The company's media advisor Mizanul Islam told the local media of Bangladesh that the owner of the ship is the Bangladeshi company SR Shipping Lines. It is a subsidiary of Chittagong based Kabir Steel and Rerolling Mill Group.

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maritime Affairs Secretary Rear Admiral (Retd.) Md. Khurshed Alam said that it was not possible to contact the pirates who seized the ship. Because even though they are supposed to contact us, they have not responded yet.

Those who are being contacted are the officials of different countries. There is an EU ship there, two of our ships 20 miles away. We have contact with that ship.'

Incidentally, on Tuesday (March 12) at noon, pirates took control of the MV Abdullah with 23 sailors from the Somali coast of the Indian Ocean on its way to the United Arab Emirates with 55,000 tons of coal from Mozambique. The area of ​​the sea where the pirates seized the ship is 450 nautical miles (1,100 km) from Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

SUN NEWS/MR