Eid Celebration pictures of the sailors held hostage by Somali pirates are on social handles
The sailors of the Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah, held hostage by Somali pirates, offered Eid prayers on board the ship on Wednesday. On this day at 11 am Bangladesh time, they prayed at the dock of the ship. After the prayer they also took pictures together 23 sailors. The picture has been published in online media with social handles.
According to a related source, the hostage Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah is currently in Somali waters. Eid-ul-Fitr is being celebrated on Wednesday, April 10 in the countries of the region, including Somalia. The bandits allowed the sailors to go to the ship's dock on this day to offer Eid prayers. Besides, special food is arranged for the sailors on the occasion of Eid, the source said.
On the other hand, Chittagong's SR Shipping's ship 'MV Ibrahim Jahan' is now anchored off the coast of Indonesia to pick up coal. The 24 Bangladeshi sailors of the ship are celebrating Eid there and offering prayers. Prayed for the release of colleagues held hostage by Somali pirates in Eid prayers.
Another SR Shipping vessel MV Abdullah and 23 sailors were held hostage by Somali pirates for ransom. They are in captivity for the past one month.
Mahfuzur Rahman Titu, chief officer of the same company's ship MV Ibrahim Jahan, lives in Thakurgaon district. He has spent many years in the profession of sailor. In the morning, on his Facebook page, he posted a picture of Eid prayers on the ship. When contacted after seeing the picture, Mahfuzur said they were staying at an anchorage in Indonesia to 'load' coal. They will go to Vietnam with coal. They are celebrating Eid on Wednesday, April 10 according to the Indonesian schedule.
When asked how Eid is being spent, Mahfuzur Rahman said, we are 24 Bangladeshis here. Apart from our parents, we are our relatives. Another ship of our company MV Abdullah is held hostage by Somali pirates. Many of the workers of that ship are friends and acquaintances of the workers here. Many people here are upset because their friends are hostages. Yet Eid is here, we have to celebrate even while floating in water.
Ibrahim Jahan's chief officer said, they got up in the morning, put on Punjabi pajamas and spread prayer mats on the deck of the ship and offered prayers. He also said, after the prayer, we prayed for everyone, especially for our friends and colleagues who are hostages. We can still celebrate on the ship; they are at gunpoint. Those who are guarding them all have 47 guns in their hands.
On the occasion of Eid, good food has been arranged on the ship today. Beef Kala Buna, Chicken Tikka, Kashmiri Polao with Rashan Salad. There is also a variety of desserts including ice cream.
Ibrahim Jahan's chief officer informed that MV Abdullah's hostage friends were contacted during this celebration. He said, today many of us have spoken to the friends of that ship. Tried to console them. The ship reported that they were guarded at gunpoint all the time. They also requested that we understand how well people can live at gun point.
Meanwhile, it has been written in many newspapers of the country that the bandits are treating the hostages in a grand manner, feeding them with dumba and biryani. The sailors of MV Abdullah are upset about it. They said, what is available here is brought by pirates. That doesn't mean they are being held in high esteem. Sailors are trying to survive at the gun point for 24 hours. They urged people to keep them in prayers.
