Rescue of Jahan Moni crew
Families want PM’s intervention
Family members of the crew of the hijacked Bangladeshi cargo liner MV Jahan Moni demanded on Sunday immediate and direct intervention by prime minister Sheikh Hasina for the rescue of their dear ones.
They told New Age on the sidelines of a news conference they addressed at the National Press Club that they felt that the steps taken by the government and the owner of the ship, so far, was far from adequate for the rescue of the beleaguered crew.
They said that they were getting no help from the government whatsoever.
They said that they wanted a solution to the crisis.
They expressed the apprehension that unless the government took steps and immediately the crew of the Bangladeshi flag carrier could suffer much.
Twenty five Bangladeshi sailors and the wife of the ship’s chief engineer were on board
MV Jahan Moni, when it was hijacked by Somali pirates on December 5 from the Arabian Sea, off the Cochin Port of India.
The ship was on its way to Greece from Indonesia via Suez Canal carrying 43,150 tonnes of nickel.
The pirates boarded the ship at around 3.45 PM on December 5.
They anchored it at Garad, a village in Somali coast around 1.30 AM on December 12.
At the news conference, Mahfuza Khatun, wife of Tariqul Islam, fourth engineer of Jahan Moni read out a written statement on behalf of all the beleaguered crew.
Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers’ Association chairman Riasat Hossain and sailors’ representative Shakhawat Hossain spoke, among others.
The relatives also demanded safe maritime routes free from pirates.
They broke down speaking about their near and dear ones now captives in the hands of the pirates.
Mahfuza sought immediate intervention by the prime minister.
She said that many members of the families of the crew fell sick spending their days in anxiety, distress and apprehension.
‘We are anxious about their security,’ she said.3
“We have no contact with them since December 12, when we spoke to them for two minutes,’ she told New Age.
Relatives said that on December 12, when they spoke to the crew on phone, they came to know that about 30 Somali pirates confined them in a room without any warm clothings.
They said that the captors were warning that they would be killed unless the ransom was paid.
There is no visible initiative from the government to rescue the crew but for occasionally coming out with statements that the needed steps would be taken, said Ehsanul Karim, nephew of Matiur Mawla, the ship’s chief engineer.
With tearing eyes, Mahira Tasmim, seven-year old daughter of Qamrul Hossain, third officer of the ship, called for bringing her father back.
‘Please bring back my father I didn’t see him for long’ she said.
Bilkis Rahman, mother of engine cadet Shahrier Rabbi, appealed to the government and the ship owner to get the crew, if needed by paying the ransom.
She told New Age, ‘Rabbi told me that the captors were forcing the crew to do whatever they wanted at gunpoint.’
She said that the ship’s stock of food was running out.
She said that her son wanted to know from her whether or not the government and the ship owner were doing anything to free them.
