A Bangladeshi flag carrier ship has been hijacked by Somalian pirates in the Indian Ocean near Somalia on Tuesday.
The vessel named 'MV Abdullah' owned by KSRM Group's SR Shipping was heading to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from the African country of Mozambique, according to the ship’s owners.
At least 100 pirates have taken control of the ship at sea about 450 nautical miles from Somalia. 23 Bangladeshi sailors working on the ship are being held hostage by the bandits.
A message was sent from the ship around 1:30pm, according to sources, said KSRM's media adviser Mizanul Islam.
“We have received information that the vessel is under attack by pirates in the Indian Ocean. The crew are secured within the ship's cabins,” he said.
"We are working to establish communication with them," he added.
In December 2010, Somali pirates had hijacked the Bangladeshi vessel “MV Jahan Moni” in the Arabian Sea.
They took 25 sailors and the wife of the nickel-bearing ship’s chief engineer hostage. After repeated attempts, they were freed from the pirates after 100 days and brought back home.
MSH