A commercial vessel 'MV Banglar Joyjatra' owned by the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) has turned back while attempting to cross the strategic Hormuz Strait due to rising security concerns in the region.
According to sources, the vessel was forced to retreat after reports of potential missile and drone attacks amid escalating regional tensions in the Middle East. The ship is currently anchored in a relatively safe area near the coast of the United Arab Emirates.
There are 31 Bangladeshi sailors on board the vessel. Sources said all crew members are safe and in good health. The ship also has sufficient supplies of food, water and fuel.
Amid ongoing military tensions involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, the BSC vessel attempted to leave the Persian Gulf by crossing the Hormuz Strait. However, due to fears of missile attacks, the ship turned back and returned to its previous position in the Persian Gulf.
BSC sources said the vessel attempted to cross the strait last Thursday on its way back to Bangladesh. But after receiving reports of missile activity in the area and assessing the security risks, the ship aborted the journey.
Currently, the vessel is anchored at the outer anchorage near the coast of Sharjah, according to vessel tracking data from MarineTraffic.
Following the incident, BSC has initiated steps to ensure the safe passage of the vessel through the Hormuz Strait. The corporation has sent a letter to the Ministry of Shipping requesting diplomatic engagement through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The letter was issued by Mahmudul Malek, Managing Director of BSC. He confirmed that all 31 Bangladeshi sailors on board remain safe.
Possible Plan to Load New Cargo
Speaking about the situation, Commodore Mahmudul Malek said the vessel is currently anchored in the Sharjah anchorage area.
“As the ship is still within the Hormuz region, there is a plan to load new cargo from Qatar,” he said.
According to BSC sources, MV Banglar Joyjatra entered the Persian Gulf on February 2 after crossing the Hormuz Strait while carrying cargo from India. Later, it loaded steel coils from a port in Qatar and arrived at Jebel Ali Port in the UAE on February 27.
United States and Israel reportedly launched attacks on Iran. Iran carried out strikes in several locations across the Middle East, escalating tensions in the region.
Officials said the vessel completed unloading its cargo at Jebel Ali Port on March 11. It was then scheduled to sail to a port in Kuwait to load new cargo.
However, due to the ongoing conflict and security risks in the region, BSC decided to bring the vessel back to a safer route. The ship then began its journey toward the Hormuz Strait.
Turned Back Near the Strait
According to the sailors, on March 12 the vessel reached about 66 nautical miles from the entrance of the Hormuz Strait. At that point, the crew received reports of missile attacks in the strait area.
The UAE Coast Guard also advised the vessel not to cross the strait due to safety concerns and instructed it to move to a safer location. Following the advisory, the ship turned back.
The situation has revived memories of a previous tragedy involving a Bangladeshi vessel. On March 2, 2022, during the Russo‑Ukrainian War, the Bangladeshi ship MV Banglar Samriddhi was hit by a Russian missile at Olvia Port. Bangladeshi marine engineer Hadisur Rahman was killed, while 28 other Bangladeshi sailors were later rescued. With that memory still fresh, the ongoing tensions in the Middle East have once again raised concerns about the safety of Bangladeshi vessels and sailors operating in the region.
