Rear Admiral (Retd) Khurshed Alam, Secretary of the Maritime Affairs Unit (MAU), assured on Thursday that the 23 Bangladeshi sailors aboard the hijacked Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah are in good health and remain committed to safely retrieving the vessel with its crew.

Addressing reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Alam referenced previous successful rescues of Bangladeshi sailors from the domestically owned ship 'Jahan Moni' and the Malaysian vessel 'Al-Bedo,' emphasizing the lack of ransom demands from the pirates. Responding to inquiries about potential ransom demands, Alam dismissed media reports as speculative, stating that no such demands had been made by the pirates nor had they reached out regarding ransom negotiations.

Despite the ship avoiding high-risk routes, the pirates commandeered the vessel and set course for Somalia, anchoring near the Somali coast early on Thursday. However, Alam confirmed that the pirates had not yet established contact with the authorities. Drawing from past experiences, Alam recounted the successful resolution of similar incidents involving the 'Jahan Moni' in 2010 and the 'Al-Bedo,' highlighting the government's commitment to securing the safe return of Bangladeshi sailors.

Regarding ongoing efforts, Alam emphasized the collaborative approach between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Shipping, and ship owners to address the situation. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the pirates' demands, efforts to resolve the situation remain ongoing.