Shawdesh desk:

The family members of MV Abdullah’s Chief Engineer Saiduzzaman Syed have been eagerly waiting for his return home after the pirates released all 23 crew members including Syed after weeks of captivity.

The news of his release has brought relief to the family. Now his parents, wife and family members are waiting to see him.

Prof. Abdul Quaiyum, father of Syed of Naogaon said “We have been passing horrifying days since the news of captivity by Somali pirates circulated. In the meantime, the holy Eid-ul-Fitr came, but we were not happy. Now a sigh of comfort has been prevailing among us after hearing the release of all 23 crew members. We are enjoying the joy of Eid anew.”

Tamanna Tahrin, wife of the chief engineer of the hijacked cargo, said “We heard the news of his release over the phone around 3:30 am on Sunday then I talked to my husband. During the tele conversation, he said they were released and the 65 pirates left ‘MV Abdullah’. Now they are heading towards the United Arab Emirates and they will likely reach there by April 22-23.”

She also expressed her gratitude to the Almighty Allah. Now she is waiting for the safe and healthy return of her husband.

The Bangladeshi-flagged ship and its 23 crew members were released after 31 days of being taken hostage in the Indian Ocean reportedly for a large ransom.

A Somali news outlet reported that MV Abdullah was released for $5 million (Tk 55 crore).

Earlier, on March 12 at 1:30 pm Bangladesh time, Somali pirates boarded and took control of the MV Abdullah while it was en route from the port of Maputo, Mozambique, to the United Arab Emirates.

The ship was carrying 55,000 tons of coal. All 23 crew members on board are Bangladeshis. The ship is owned by SR Shipping Limited, an affiliate of Chattogram-based Kabir Group. The pirates then took the ship to the coast of Somalia.

Nine days after the ship was hijacked, the pirates contacted the ship’s owner’s group to demand ransom. There were then negotiations at various levels. The ship’s owner had hinted that the sailors would be released this month.

SR Shipping is one of the largest shipping companies in the country. They operate ocean-going merchant ships. The bulk carrier MV Abdullah, with a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 45,653 tons, has an overall length (LOA) of 185.74 metres and a width of 30.4 metres.