17 ‘Banglar Joyjatra’ sailors return home after four-month ordeal

Seventeen crew members of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC)-owned MV Banglar Joyjatra returned home on Tuesday after spending nearly four months stranded near the much-talked-about Strait of Hormuz amid the conflict in the Middle East.

The sailors left Durban, South Africa, on Monday night and arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 5:42pm on Tuesday, said BSC Managing Director Commodore Mahmudul Malek.

The crew members were brought back as many of them had already completed or were close to completing their normal service period on board, he said.

The long wait at sea had also left several of them physically exhausted and mentally stressed, the BSC managing director said.

The vessel had a total of 31 Bangladeshi crew members. Those returning included the captain, officers, engineers, cadets and other sailors.

To keep the ship operational, BSC had already sent 17 new crew members to Durban. They joined the vessel and took over duties from the returning sailors.

According to BSC, Banglar Joyjatra is likely to leave Durban within the next few days after loading its next cargo.

Malaysia is likely to be its next destination.

The Bangladesh-flagged bulk carrier remained stranded for about 115 days near the Strait of Hormuz amid growing security concerns.

The vessel was unable to pass through the strategic waterway despite repeated attempts.

After months of waiting, the ship finally crossed the Strait of Hormuz on 23 June. It then travelled to Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates for refuelling and maintenance before continuing its journey to Durban.

Built in 2018, Banglar Joyjatra has a carrying capacity of nearly 39,000 tonnes.

The vessel entered Middle Eastern waters in late January. However, it transported steel coils from Qatar to the UAE and later fertiliser from Saudi Arabia to South Africa during the period.