The Newmooring Container Terminal (NCT) of Chittagong Port was wet yesterday with the joy and tears of joy and tears of 23 sailors of the Bangladeshi flag ship MV Abdullah, who returned home after being freed from the pirates of Somalia. The sailors who were freed from the hostage status by handing over the responsibility of Abdullah anchored in Kutubdia area of outer anchorage to the new sailors arrived at the number one jetty of NCT yesterday at 4:10 pm on Tuesday. The sailors arrived at Chittagong port from Qutubdia on board the lighterage ship named MV Jahan Moni-3 of KSRM Group, the company that owns the ship.
Before the ship anchored, the sailors took position on the ship's deck and waved their hands. They came down in a row. At that time, some people had small national flags in their hands. Excited and happy sailors were surrounded by reporters. Pushing through a crowd of hundreds of journalists, they reached the makeshift tent set up in the yard. Their families and relatives were waiting there.
After getting off the ship, Chief Officer Atiqullah Khan ran to the two girls. He cried with deep emotions. He said, I was waiting for this day. I said to Allah day and night, that I may see the face of my children again. For girls, the chest was hoo hoo all the time. The family was crying for the family. Today I got it from my relatives, I took it to the chest of the girls. A happier day has never come in my life.
Atiqullah Khan, the father of three daughters, was holding his daughters repeatedly. The girls were also showering him with love and kisses. They also get excited with the flowers they carry for their father. In response to various questions from journalists, Atiqullah said, "We have come to light after passing through a terrible time.
10-year-old eldest daughter Yasra Fatema told reporters, I thought I would never see my father again. But today I feel very good to have father. I am very happy. My grandpa and mom cooked a lot for dad. From here we will go home very happy. I will go for a walk with my father.
Chief Officer Atiqullah's younger brother Asif Khan along with two nieces joined the ceremony organized by the Chittagong Port Authority to welcome the sailors. Two-year-old daughter Khadija Arabia, wife Feroza Akhtar and mother Shahnoor Begum did not attend the event. They were waiting for Atiq at Nandankanan's house.
Asif Khan said, today is our Eid day because Biya has returned. The thirty-third day of my brother's captivity was a day of terrible terror for us. We did not have any joy this Eid. Today we are celebrating Eid. We waited like pilgrim crows every day after being freed from the pirates. Today our wait is over.
Immediately after the Port Authority ceremony, Atiqullah Khan left for Nandankanan's residence with his two daughters and younger brother. Asif said that many relatives were staying in the house apart from the family.
The event was organized at Atiqullah's residence. He cut the ribbon and entered the house. As soon as he entered the house, he hugged his mother Shahnur Begum and cried. Cuts the cake with the little girl in her arms. Mother Shahnur Akhtar feeds Atiqullah with her own hands. At this time tears of joy were flowing from his eyes. He hugged his mother and cried again.
His wife Jannatul Ferdous came to the port to welcome the sailor Noor Uddin back home after being freed from the hostage situation. Two-and-a-half-year-old son Sadman Noor was with him. After welcoming the sailors with flowers, his wife greeted Nur Uddin again with flowers. While talking to the journalists, the wife handed over Jannatul Sadman to her father. Nur Uddin cried with his only son in his arms. Two-and-a-half-year-old son Sadman also rested his head on his father's chest and kept quiet, looking at his father's face from time to time. Nur Uddin could not speak, only crying.
Later, he told reporters, "The first day the pirates intercepted our ship, I thought to myself, 'This is the last time of our life.' And may not return to the country. And maybe I won't be able to see my son's face. But by the infinite mercy of Allah, I saw the faces of the wife and children. I will go home and see my mother's face.
Speaking about the 33 days of hostage-taking, Noor Uddin said, "Pirates kept us hostage." But never beaten or abused too much. Scared in many ways. Whenever they saw a ship nearby, they would hold us hostage at gunpoint. I was very scared then. It seemed that the bullet would graze the chest. Returning to the country today, it seems that it was a nightmare.
MV Abdullah's sailor MD Nazmul Haque told reporters that we could not return to the country like this. They held hostages at gunpoint. Didn't let me call. Scared in many ways. But never beat. He said, we never dreamed that we would be released so soon. The pirates would point their weapons at us whenever they saw an international force ship nearby. Threatened to shoot and kill. Then it seemed that life was over. The chest was humming for the family. I cried a lot. Never thought such a day would come in life. Returning to the country today, it seems that we have returned to the country with our lives in our hands after crossing a terrible path.
Narrating the terrible experience, sailor Shamsuddin Shimul, a resident of Anwara, said that each day felt like a year. The clock did not turn. 33 days of Zimmi Dasha took like 33 years. The bandits planted helicopter destruction weapons on the ship. AK-47 rifles gleamed in their hands. Staying in the midst of all this, I was always on the sidelines. I was startled even in my sleep; This life is over. He said that it is not possible to express in words the joy of being able to return to the country.
Not only these few sailors, every one of the 23 sailors of the ship said that no joy in the world compares with the joy of returning home.
Incidentally, on March 4, MV Abdullah was captured by pirates in the Indian Ocean on March 12 on its way to Al Hamria port in the United Arab Emirates with 56,000 tons of coal from Maputo port in Mozambique, Africa. The pirates took the 23 sailors hostage and took the ship off the coast of Somalia. Later, with the help of mediators including insurance companies, MV Abdullah was released after 33 days on April 13 at 3:08 PM Bangladesh time.
Soon after the bandits disembarked, the ship left for Dubai's Al Hamria port. Commandos of the European Naval Force's Operation Atlanta escorted the ship through the danger zone. On April 21, MV Abdullah anchored safely at Al Hamriya Port in the United Arab Emirates. After unloading 56 thousand tons of coal there, the vessel went to the nearby MV Mina Saka port. After loading 55,000 tons of limestone there, the ship went to Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates to collect fuel oil. After completing all formalities, the ship sailed from Dubai to Chittagong on April 30. Last Monday evening, the ship anchored at Kutubdia, outer anchorage of Chittagong port. The ship reached the country after 64 days of voyage.
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