Road Transport and Bridges, Railways, and Shipping Minister Sheikh Rabiul Alam, has assured full government support for the crew of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation’s (BSC) vessel MV Banglar Joyjatra, currently stranded at the Port of Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates.
In a video message on Monday, the minister expressed deep sympathy for the 31 crew members and called for maintaining their morale during the ongoing tense situation.
“The courage and professionalism shown by the sailors amid this conflict is a matter of national pride. The government highly values their contribution,” he said.
Sheikh Rabiul Alam added that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is personally monitoring the situation and keeping in touch with the crew through the Foreign Ministry.
“Families of all 31 crew members have been contacted, and high-quality food and essential supplies have been provided on board to ensure their well-being” he added.
A special ‘control cell’ has been formed at BSC’s Chattogram headquarters to coordinate support for the crew and their families.
The Bangladesh Embassy in Dubai and local agents are maintaining continuous communication. The minister expressed optimism that the crisis will be resolved soon.
The vessel, carrying 38,800 tonnes of steel coil from Mesaieed, Qatar, arrived at Jebel Ali on 27 February. Cargo unloading was temporarily suspended due to regional tensions, delaying the ship’s departure.
Commodore Mahmudul Malek, Managing Director of BSC, confirmed that once unloading resumes, the vessel will depart promptly. Other BSC vessels are reported to be in safe zones.
The delay follows joint US and Israeli attacks on Iran, which prompted retaliatory missile strikes across several countries, including the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. Shipping operations in the region have faced significant disruptions, raising concerns over maritime security and cargo movement.
BSC also operates six other vessels in ports across the US, Canada, Russia, Senegal, Liberia, and Pakistan.
The situation at Jebel Ali underscores the wider impact of the Middle East crisis on international shipping and highlights the vulnerability of cargo operations in volatile regions.
