<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>The Bangladeshi-flagged vessel MV Abdullah, recently liberated from Somali pirates, is scheduled to depart Al-Hamriya Port in the United Arab Emirates for Bangladesh today (April 28, 2024) at noon, officials confirmed.</b></span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The vessel, which had been hijacked for 33 days, successfully unloaded 55,000 metric tonnes of coal at Al-Hamriya Port yesterday. The owner, KSRM Group, announced that the vessel and its crew of 23 sailors are expected to arrive at Chattogram Port by mid-May.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mizanul Islam, a spokesperson for the Chattogram-based KSRM Group, reported that the loading operations were completed yesterday, and the vessel is now ready to embark on its journey back to Bangladesh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">MV Abdullah initially anchored at the UAE port on the evening of April 22, following its release from pirate captivity. Distinguished guests including Mohammad Abu Jafar, the Bangladesh Ambassador, and officials from SR Shipping, the vessel's operating company, were present to welcome the crew upon their arrival.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The ship first arrived at the outer anchorage of the port on April 21, following its ordeal which began on March 12 when it was seized by Somali pirates about 600 nautical miles off the Somali coast en route from Mozambique to Dubai.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The pirates took control of the vessel and its crew, holding them until a ransom of Tk 55 crore facilitated their release on the night of April 13.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Following the release, MV Abdullah headed to Al-Hamriya Port under the escort of an EU NAVFOR warship, navigating through approximately 480 nautical miles of high-risk areas along the Somali coast and the Red Sea before reaching the safety of the United Arab Emirates.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This voyage marks a significant step towards recovery after the harrowing pirate attack, with the crew looking forward to a safe return to their homeland. - UNB</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd/fas</div>