Mina Azmin, the wife of Mohammad Atique Ullah Khan, the chief officer of the Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah currently hijacked by Somali pirates, had to be hospitalized after repeatedly fainting.

Atique sent an audio message to his wife around iftar time on Tuesday, conveying a dire message: "They are taking our mobile phones away. The bottom line is, if the money is not given, they will kill us one by one. The sooner the money is given, the sooner they will let us go. Please, get this message out."

Atique, hailing from Chandanaish upazila of Chittagong, resides in the Nandan Kanan area of the port city with his mother, wife, and three daughters.

His elderly mother, Shahnoor Begum, along with his children, broke down in tears when approached by reporters. Shahnoor Begum, holding a framed picture of Atique, lamented, "A day feels like a year! I was told that we'll have to wait a few months to get our son back. How will I live with this sorrow?"

With her son held hostage and her daughter-in-law unwell, Shahnoor Begum expressed grave concern. Recalling her son's message, she said, "In his last voice message, my son told my daughter-in-law, 'If they don't give the money, they will kill us.' Since then, she has been unwell."

"She is expecting. After losing consciousness several times on Tuesday night, we took her to a private hospital. After treatment, we brought her home. She is still ill!" Shahnoor added.

Expressing desperation, Shahnoor Begum appealed to the Prime Minister to intervene and rescue the 23 sailors, including her son, held hostage by the pirates. "My son is our only support; other hostages are also like that to their families. Our Prime Minister is a mother! She will understand the pain of a mother! She should take quick action on this..

 
 
 
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