Survival at Sea: Bangladeshi Crew’s 115-Day Ordeal in War-Torn Strait
For 115 harrowing days, the crew of the Bangladeshi vessel Banglar Joyjatra endured a terrifying ordeal, trapped in the volatile waters of the Strait of Hormuz. Caught in the escalating conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel, their journey became a struggle for survival amid missile threats and sinking ships.
Upon their return to Dhaka, Captain Md Shafiqul Islam recounted the perilous experience. Speaking to journalists at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Captain Islam expressed profound relief, stating they felt they had been given a “second chance at life.” He extended gratitude to all who supported them during their captivity.
The captain praised the timely decisions made by Bangladeshi authorities, which he believes ensured their safe return with the state-owned ship. Despite government advice to seek safety in a hotel, the crew bravely chose to remain aboard the Banglar Joyjatra to protect the national asset from potential abandonment.
Their time in the Persian Gulf was marked by extreme danger. Captain Shafiqul described a night at Jebel Ali Port when a missile struck a nearby berth, igniting an oil tanker. The massive blaze, which even six tugboats could not extinguish, posed a direct threat to their vessel. If any of the tanker’s 40 storage tanks had exploded, the Banglar Joyjatra could have been engulfed.
Adding to the risks, the ship’s then commanding officer, Pronoy Krishna Sen, revealed that satellite navigation systems were inoperative. This forced the crew to navigate the vessel entirely by hand. With naval mines present in the area, even a small error in direction could have led to a catastrophic explosion.
The Banglar Joyjatra entered the Persian Gulf on February 2. After loading steel coils in Qatar, it reached Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates on February 27. The conflict erupted the very next day, leading to the vessel being stranded due to severe security concerns.
Finally, after nearly four months, the ship received permission from Iranian authorities to cross the Strait of Hormuz on June 23. Its return to Bangladesh brought emotional reunions as family members embraced the seafarers, while officials from the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation welcomed them with flowers.
