Thursday, October 9, 2025

Sailors received in tears

Ctg airport witnesses a highly emotion-charged reunion on arrival of 26 crews freed by Somali pirates
Torrents of tears and smiles, joy and relief engulfed Shah Amanat International Airport as the 26 crew of hijacked ship MV Jahan Moni landed yesterday afternoon.
A flight of Oman airways boeing 737-800 brought the crew home after their agonising 100-day captivity at the Gulf of Aden on Somali coast.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan received the returnees with bouquets at the airport’s VIP Lounge. The crew were also welcomed through a reception at a brief ceremony at the airport.
Most of the crewmembers failed to hold tears when reunited with their families.
“I thought that I would not be able to get back home ever. I passed my time in great panic and anxiety and always kept praying,” said one of the returnees Rukhsana Gulzar, wife of the ship’s Chief Engineer Matiul Mawla.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni also found it hard to hold her emotion seeing the reunion.
She said, “It felt as if it were thousand days, not 100. We all went through impossible times and emotions.”
At the airport, something celestial was waiting for Second Engineer Main Uddin. It was his first child, born on December 23. Main Uddin ran to the baby and picked it up from his wife’s lap. He held the child high.
He told The Daily Star that the news of his child’s birth, which he received through the ship’s owners, helped him pass the horrific days as a hostage.
Shaila Naz Ahmed, wife of the hijacked ship’s captain Farid Ahmed, said, “I can’t even dare to think of the terrible days and sleepless nights. From now on, I will only think of future.”
Bilkis Rahman, mother of the youngest crewmember of the ship Engine Cadet Shahriar Rabbi, who knocked every door including the ship’s owner firm and different government departments over the last three months for her son’s release, was found so happy yesterday.
“I have arranged feast for my neighbours and relatives on the occasion,” said the peaceful mother.
Awami League leaders including former mayor of Chittagong ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury, Akhteruzzaman Chowdhury Babu MP, officials of Mercantile Marine Department, Department of Shipping and MV Jahan Moni’s owner and operating firms including SR Shipping and Brave Royal Ship Management Ltd were also present at the airport.
The families of the crew, who waited holding their breaths all this time, could not wait any longer to meet their loved and almost lost ones when the flight landed at the airport half-an-hour late.
Before the arrival, in a press conference at the VIP Lounge the ministers said the 26 people on board could be freed due to the all out effort of the government with cooperation from the ship’s owner firm.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni said the government was monitoring the matter round the clock and extended necessary support for the release of the hostages.
Trashing giving of any ransom, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan said the government did everything for the safe return of the crew.
Addressing the ceremony Dipu Moni thanked the families of the abducted crew members for their patience and trust on the government all this time.
She said, “I know those 100 days were more than thousand years. We also went through the same anxiety. I wish they [the crew] recover from the horrible experience soon.”
Bangladesh would be actively involved with the ongoing international initiative to make the movement of its merchant vessels safe.
Captain of the ship Farid Ahmed who addressed the ceremony expressed his gratitude to the government and the ship authorities for taking steps to release them at the earliest period.
Chief Engineer Matiul Mawla urged the government to take necessary steps regarding safety of the Bangladeshi mariners.
Mohammed Shahjahan, owner of the ship and managing director of the ship’s owner firm SR Shipping who also arrived with the crews on the same flight, said he is so happy to bring back the crews safely.
The Bangladesh flag carrier was freed on March 14 and it berthed safely at the Salalah port in Oman around 11:25am (BST) on Saturday, five days after its release.
The ship along with 26 Bangladeshis was hijacked by Somali pirates on December 5 last year in the Arabian Sea. Six days later, the ship anchored at the Somali coast.

Related News

Bangladesh and KSA sign pact for workers’ rights

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have just inked a labour recruitment agreement, marking the first deal aimed at promoting fair recruitment practices and protecting workers’ rights. Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser, Prof. Asif Nazrul, and the Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, Engineer Ahmad Bin Solaiman Al-Rajhi, recently came ... Read more

Poor pay, allowances of teachers affect education

World Teacher’s Day today Shahin Akhter Poor pay-scale and allowances and low social status mark the poor condition of the teachers in Bangladesh affecting the education sector, observed educationists and researchers. They also said that the Bangladeshi teachers were lagging much behind their fellows even in the neighbouring countries in terms of these facilities and ... Read more

Protecting hilsa: 22-day fishing ban begins

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The government has put a 22-day halt on catching, transporting, storing, selling, and marketing hilsa throughout the country. This measure aims to protect the fish during its crucial breeding season. The ban started at midnight yesterday and will last until October 25, as stated in a notification from the Ministry of ... Read more

Road fatalities: 446 crashes, 417 lives lost in September

News Desk : dhakamirror.com In September, a tragic report from the Road Safety Foundation revealed that at least 417 people lost their lives and 682 were injured in 446 road accidents throughout Bangladesh. Among those who died, there were 63 women and 47 children, as highlighted in the foundation’s monthly report released today. In 151 ... Read more

Man’s fatal fall into Ramna Park lake

News Desk : dhakamirror.com A tragic incident occurred yesterday at Ramna Park in the capital, where a man drowned in the lake. The victim has been identified as 55-year-old Wasimul Haq. The police were able to identify him using fingerprint records. According to Ramna police SI Mizanur Rahman, he was discovered unconscious around 6:00 PM ... Read more

Tariff Commission’s size-based hilsa pricing strategy

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangladesh Trade and Tariff Commission (BTTC), also known as the Tariff Commission, has suggested setting a maximum retail price for hilsa based on its size. This recommendation comes in response to the unusual spike in prices seen in the local market. On Sunday, the Tariff Commission released a report detailing ... Read more

Ekushey Book Fair won’t happen in December

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Bangla Academy announced yesterday (28 September), that the previously scheduled dates for the Amar Ekushey Book Fair 2026 have been postponed. In a press release, they explained that this decision was made following a directive from the Ministry of Home Affairs on September 21, which indicated that the fair should ... Read more

Working in Bangladesh is quite challenging: CEC

News Desk : dhakamirror.com The Election Commission is grappling with a mix of challenges, both seen and unseen, as it gears up for the upcoming elections and responds to various demands, shared chief election commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Saturday. “These hurdles might not be apparent from the outside, but we’re constantly navigating through them,” ... Read more

Travel ban on Keokradong hill to be lifted starting from 1 October

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Great news for travelers! Keokradong hill in Bandarban’s Ruma upazila is set to welcome tourists again starting October 1. The district administration has finally lifted the travel ban that had been in effect for almost three years. Bandarban Deputy Commissioner (DC) Shamim Ara Rini announced the decision today (27 September) during ... Read more

Tree planting campaign to lower pollution, make city more attractive

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) Administrator Md Shahjahan Mia has inaugurated a tree plantation and greening programme covering 33 road medians, spanning a total length of 31 kilometres, within the corporation’s jurisdiction. Under the “Zero Soil” programme, ornamental flowering trees and grasses will be planted across 28 DSCC medians, while the ... Read more

Krishi Bank ranks third in remittance collection

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Krishi Bank has shown remarkable success in collecting remittances from expatriates during the first eight months of 2025 (January–August). Known as bank for farmers due to its agricultural loan services, this state-owned institution has climbed to the third position in remittance collection from abroad in that timeframe. This notable achievement has ... Read more

North Bay low : Rain forecast for Bangladesh

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Many parts of the country is expected to witness moderate to heavy and very heavy rainfall in the coming days due to the formation of a low-pressure system over the north Bay and adjoining coastal areas, the Met office said in its latest forecast. According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department’s 120-hour weather ... Read more

Metrorail boosts service: Extended hours & more frequent arrivals

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Dhaka metrorail service is set to start operating earlier in the morning and later at night to better serve the growing number of passengers. Service hours will be extended by 30 minutes at both the beginning and end of the day, and the interval between trains will be reduced by nearly ... Read more

22% minors in Bangladesh’s sex trade

News Desk : dhakamirror.com At least 22 percent of victims of commercial sexual exploitation (abuse of a person, or a minor, through sexual activities in exchange for money, goods, or other benefits) in Bangladesh are children, said speakers at an event yesterday. They shared the information at the launch of “Project Shurakkha”, an initiative of ... Read more

WB Reports Bangladesh Heat Costs at $1.78 Billion in 2024

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Rising temperatures in Bangladesh are fueling a surge in heat-related illnesses, leading to the loss of 250 million workdays in 2024 and economic losses estimated at $1.33–1.78 billion, representing about 0.3 to 0.4 percent of Bangladesh’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024, according to a new World Bank report. The report ... Read more

Police clearance no longer required for passports

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus announced that police verification will no longer be necessary for obtaining a passport, thereby reducing unnecessary hassle for citizens. “Getting a passport is a basic right. We have established a rule that eliminates the need for police verification,” he stated. While speaking at the opening session ... Read more

Metro rail achieves record 4 lakh daily passengers

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Metro Rail has achieved a remarkable milestone by carrying over 400,000 passengers in a single day. The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL), which operates the Metro Rail, announced this achievement on their official Facebook page on Friday night. For the first time, Metro Rail recorded 403,164 passengers. The Metro Rail ... Read more

Most people, about 66% think civil servants behave as if they are rulers

News Desk : dhakamirror.com More than 100,000 participants have contributed their responses to reform commission’s online survey 80% of the respondents believe that the administration is not approachable for the general public, according to a survey conducted by the Public Administration Reform Commission. Additionally, 66% of participants feel that civil servants act as if they ... Read more

Former Justice Abdur Rouf dies

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Former Chief Election Commissioner Justice Md Abdur Rouf has passed away at the age of 91. He died around 10:00 am while receiving treatment at Insaf Barakah Kidney and General Hospital in Dhaka, as stated in a press release. Justice Rouf had been battling heart disease, lung complications, kidney issues, and ... Read more

Bangladesh climbed 4 positions to rank 93rd in global passport index

News Desk : dhakamirror.com Bangladesh has climbed four notches up in the latest Henley Passport Index 2025, ranking 93rd out of 99. However, the number of visa-free destinations for Bangladeshi passport holders has dropped from 42 in 2024 to 39 this year, reflecting a decline in global travel privileges. Despite this improvement in rank — ... Read more