From the brink of death: Stories of 4 Bangladeshi sailors in Hormuz

On 1 March 2026, the Marshall Islands-flagged vessel MKD VYOM was navigating the Strait of Hormuz, bound for the Saudi port of Ras Tanura, when disaster struck. Following sudden orders to drift, the crew found themselves caught in the crossfire of escalating regional tensions.
Second Engineer Officer Habibur Rahman, a Bangladeshi sailor, was resting after a long voyage and observing the Ramadan fast when, at 11:45am local time, a missile struck the vessel’s engine room. Within seconds, the compartment was engulfed in flames and thick smoke, leaving Habibur severely injured.
“We are trained for fires and disasters, but the impact of a missile is beyond words. By the grace of Allah, I survived by a hair’s breadth,” Habibur told the Daily Sun, recalling the harrowing incident amid the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the US, and Israel.

Fight for survival
The blast burnt Habibur’s right arm, scorched his respiratory tract with thick smoke, and crushed his leg under falling debris. Summoning extraordinary courage, he crawled out onto the deck despite excruciating pain.
Third Officer Md Monirul Alam Joy, also Bangladeshi, said, “We heard the blast but didn’t know what had happened until we saw Habibur rolling on the deck with his clothes on fire. He was in total shock.”
A head count revealed the grim reality that of the 21 crew members, 20 were present. “That was the moment we realised we had already lost a brother,” Monirul said.
Despite their shock, the sailors immediately launched firefighting operations. Portable extinguishers proved insufficient as the missile had struck near an oil tank, causing fuel to leak and intensifying the flames. When extinguishers ran out, the crew began manually drawing seawater using ropes and buckets. At the same time, Monirul sent distress messages to nearby vessels.

Seawater and spirit
The crew attempted to recover the body of their fallen colleague, Dixit Solanki. After five hours of continuous effort, a second explosion in the engine room sent oil over the crew, dramatically increasing the risk of a catastrophic fire.
“After that second explosion, it became impossible to continue the rescue operation,” said Habibur.
After nearly six hours of relentless struggle, the crew had no choice but to abandon the vessel. At 7:20pm, 20 surviving sailors, including four Bangladeshis, boarded a lifeboat, drifting into the uncertain waters of the Gulf. They were rescued around 9pm by a Vietnamese vessel and transported to Oman.
The MKD VYOM crew comprised 16 Indians, 4 Bangladeshis, and 1 Ukrainian. Following intervention from the ship’s owner and the Omani government, the survivors have since returned to their respective countries.
“I am fasting today as well,” Habibur said. “But on that day, I believed I would never return home to observe Ramadan again.”
Captain Md Anam Chowdhury, president of the Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers’ Association (BMMOA), praised the crew: “Such acts of bravery in extreme firefighting conditions are rare. These four Bangladeshi sailors, along with their colleagues, have set a brilliant example for the world. This incident once again proves the skill, professionalism, and sense of duty that Bangladeshi mariners bring to the global stage.”
Stranded sailors in the UAE
Meanwhile, 31 Bangladeshi sailors remain stranded at Jebel Ali Port in the UAE aboard the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation vessel MV Banglar Joyjatra.
Chief Engineer Rashedul Hasan said missile and drone attacks near the port have created extreme stress.
“It’s difficult to stay normal while witnessing a war overhead. We are basically living with our lives in our hands,” he said.
Other sailors, including Raihan Rubel in Dubai, reported delays in receiving visas, while colleagues from other countries were allowed to leave.
Md Sakhawat Hossain, general secretary of BMMOA, stated that more than 100 Bangladeshi sailors are currently stranded across the Middle East amid the ongoing conflict.