Bangladeshi Vessels Stranded Amid Escalating Hormuz Conflict

A fleet of Bangladeshi merchant vessels is currently navigating a perilous security crisis near the Strait of Hormuz following a series of regional military escalations. The tension reached a breaking point last Saturday, 28 February, when the state-owned vessel MV Banglar Joyjatra narrowly escaped destruction during an Iranian drone strike at the Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates.

A Near-Miss at Jebel Ali

The Banglar Joyjatra, operated by the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC), was docked at the UAE terminal offloading 38,800 tonnes of steel coils sourced from Qatar. According to harrowing accounts from the crew, an Iranian drone detonated a mere 100 yards from the ship’s hull.

Atikul Haque, a mariner on board, described the terrifying moment on social media, noting that the explosion illuminated the night sky and shook the vessel violently. While all 31 crew members and the structural integrity of the ship remain intact, the port was immediately placed under a "Red Alert," halting all cargo operations for 48 hours. Although offloading has since resumed, the vessel remains trapped within the volatile waters of the Persian Gulf, unable to safely transit the Strait of Hormuz.

Commercial Fleet Under Threat

Beyond the state-owned carrier, three other Bangladeshi-flagged vessels are currently caught in the crosshairs of the conflict. Private maritime giants KSRM Group and Meghna Group of Industries (MGI) have issued urgent directives to their captains to alter course or reduce speed to avoid becoming collateral damage.

Current Status of Bangladeshi Vessels in the Region:

Strategic Manoeuvres and Safety Protocols

Meherul Karim, Executive Director of KSRM Group, confirmed that their two vessels—one bound for Oman and the other for Kuwait—have been instructed to decelerate significantly. "Safety is our absolute priority. We are monitoring satellite data hourly and have told our captains to maintain a holding pattern in the Arabian Sea until the risk of aerial strikes diminishes," he stated.

Similarly, MGI’s subsidiary, Mercantile Shipping Lines, has suspended the journey of its vessel which was scheduled to refuel at the Port of Khor Fakkan. The ship is currently idling in open waters to distance itself from the primary conflict zone.

The Hormuz Bottleneck

The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most important oil transit chokepoint. With the recent death of Iran's Supreme Leader and subsequent retaliatory strikes, the passage has become a "war zone" for neutral merchant shipping. For Bangladesh, which relies heavily on these routes for industrial raw materials and energy imports, the prolonged stranding of these vessels could lead to significant supply chain disruptions and a spike in maritime insurance premiums.

The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation is reportedly in constant communication with international maritime authorities to secure a safe "blue corridor" for the exit of the Banglar Joyjatra and its crew.