After four and a half months of uncertainty, heightened geopolitical tensions and sustained diplomatic efforts, Bangladesh Shipping Corporation’s state-owned bulk carrier MV Banglar Joyjatra has successfully crossed the Strait of Hormuz. The passage ends one of the longest operational disruptions faced by a Bangladeshi merchant vessel in recent years.
The 38,894-deadweight-tonne vessel safely transited the strait around 3am Bangladesh time on Tuesday. It is now heading to Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, where it will take bunker fuel and undergo bottom cleaning before continuing its voyage to Durban, South Africa, with around 37,000 tonnes of fertiliser.
BSC Managing Director Commodore Mahmudul Malek confirmed the development, saying the successful transit marked the end of an exceptionally difficult period.
He credited the outcome to the government’s leadership, continuous guidance from the Ministry of Shipping and coordinated efforts by BSC officials. He also praised the professionalism and resilience of the ship’s captain and crew, and thanked the media for consistently highlighting the issue.
Captain Shafiqul Islam, who commands the vessel, also confirmed the passage.
The vessel entered the Middle East on 26 January under a Singapore-based charter agreement after carrying around 39,000 tonnes of steel coils from Mesaieed Port in Qatar to Jebel Ali Port in the UAE.
Although the ship discharged the cargo on 11 March, the worsening security situation in the Gulf, driven by escalating military tensions, prevented it from leaving through the Strait of Hormuz.
To avoid financial losses, BSC adopted a commercial contingency plan instead of keeping the vessel idle. The ship was redirected to Ras Al-Khair Port in Saudi Arabia, where it loaded around 37,000 tonnes of fertiliser for South Africa.
BSC officials said the vessel remained under charter throughout the crisis and was not off-hire for a single day, allowing the corporation to continue earning charter revenue despite the prolonged delay.
After completing cargo loading, the ship remained trapped inside the Persian Gulf as Iranian authorities on 18 April declined permission for it to transit the Strait of Hormuz, citing security concerns linked to the regional conflict.
As the deadlock continued, the Bangladesh government maintained diplomatic communication through multiple channels, while BSC closely monitored the security situation. With conditions eventually improving, the vessel received clearance and safely completed the transit.
All 31 Bangladeshi crew members remained safe throughout the prolonged stay in the Gulf. BSC ensured uninterrupted supplies of food, drinking water, fuel and other essential provisions. The corporation also provided special meal allowances, Eid incentives and additional “war wages” to keep up crew morale.
In a press release, BSC described the handling of the crisis as a significant achievement for Bangladesh’s maritime sector.
The corporation said it had safeguarded the vessel, protected its commercial interests by avoiding financial losses, ensured the crew’s welfare and completed one of the world’s most sensitive maritime transits amid an active regional conflict.
Officials said the coordinated response by the government, the Ministry of Shipping, BSC management and the ship’s captain and crew could serve as an important case study for handling similar international shipping emergencies in future.
