Banglar Joyjatra denied passage through Hormuz despite nearing channel

MV Banglar Joyjatra, a vessel operated by the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC), has been refused permission to transit the strategically significant Strait of Hormuz, despite approaching close to the channel in the wake of reported ceasefire developments in the Middle East.

The ship remains anchored at Mina Saqr anchorage in the United Arab Emirates, roughly 20 nautical miles from the Strait.

Commodore Mahmudul Malek, Managing Director of BSC, confirmed the development to Daily Sun at around 3:30pm on Friday. 

He said the vessel reached the vicinity of the Strait at approximately 8am and subsequently sought clearance through the appropriate channels, submitting an online application to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

However, the request was declined.

Earlier, the ship had departed Ras Al Khair Port in Saudi Arabia early on Wednesday, following reports of a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran.

Carrying approximately 37,000 tonnes of fertiliser and a crew of 31 Bangladeshi nationals, the vessel was bound for the Strait of Hormuz. Subject to clearance, it is scheduled to continue onwards to Cape Town, South Africa.

A two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran had been announced earlier. However, Iran has accused Israel of carrying out significant airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in Lebanon shortly after the ceasefire came into effect.

Tehran views the strikes as a breach of the agreement and, in response, has tightened its control over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route.

MV Banglar Joyjatra has been stranded in the Persian Gulf since hostilities escalated on 28 February. The situation intensified when a missile reportedly struck an oil storage facility just 100 metres from the vessel while it was anchored near Jebel Ali port in Dubai, raising serious safety concerns.

The ship had begun its journey several weeks earlier, entering Middle Eastern waters after passing through the Strait of Hormuz on 26 January. 

It later transported cargo between regional ports, including 38,800 tonnes of steel coils from Qatar’s Mesaieed port to Dubai.

On 26 February, the vessel arrived at Jebel Ali’s outer anchorage, but operations were subsequently disrupted by the escalating conflict. 

After several days of delay, it resumed activity, completing unloading operations on 11 March before taking on its current fertiliser cargo in Saudi Arabia.