The development comes after Joyjatra was once again stopped in the Strait of Hormuz despite Iran’s earlier announcement of reopening the key shipping route to commercial traffic.
Illustration: Ashrafun Naher Ananna/TBS Creative
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Illustration: Ashrafun Naher Ananna/TBS Creative
The government has stepped up diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation involving the vessel “MV Banglar Joyjatra”, operated by Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC), which remains unable to cross the Strait of Hormuz.
“The issue is being handled with priority at the diplomatic level to ensure a swift resolution,” Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam told journalists after the graduation parade of the 28th batch of ratings at the National Maritime Institute in Chattogram.
“We are treating the matter with importance. Diplomatic efforts are ongoing so that the issue can be resolved quickly,” he added.
The development comes after Joyjatra was once again stopped in the Strait of Hormuz despite Iran’s earlier announcement of reopening the key shipping route to commercial traffic.
According to officials, the vessel lifted anchor around 9pm yesterday from near Sharjah port and began heading towards Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.
The ship, along with other commercial vessels, proceeded towards the strait without formal clearance from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
It entered the strait around 11:50pm and was expected to cross into the Gulf of Oman by around 3:00am on Saturday. However, at approximately 12:30am, Iranian naval authorities issued a radio message ordering all vessels to stop engines and halt movement, stating that no ship would be allowed to pass without IRGC approval.
At present, Joyjatra is waiting in the Persian Gulf, about 18 nautical miles from the Strait of Hormuz, for clearance to proceed.
Earlier, following Iran’s reopening announcement, BSC had instructed the vessel to prepare for departure and seek formal clearance before proceeding to Fujairah for bunkering.
The vessel, carrying 31 crew members, has been stranded in the region for around 50 days amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
On 8 April, after a ceasefire announcement by the United States, it departed Ras Al Khair port in Saudi Arabia. However, it was denied passage near the Strait of Hormuz on 10 April, forcing it to return and take shelter near Sharjah.
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