Delayed Voyage Ends: 17 Sailors Return Home After Persian Gulf Tensions

Seventeen sailors aboard the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) vessel MV Banglar Joyjatra are set to return home tomorrow, concluding a months-long voyage significantly delayed by regional tensions in the Persian Gulf. The crew signed off from the vessel in Durban Port, South Africa, and are scheduled to arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka via Dubai.

The vessel's journey faced a substantial 115-day delay after heightened military tensions turned the Strait of Hormuz into a high-risk shipping route. The MV Banglar Joyjatra, carrying 31 Bangladeshi sailors, successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz on June 23. The ship had entered the Persian Gulf in early February, loaded steel coils in Qatar, and reached Jebel Ali Port in the United Arab Emirates on February 27.

Despite multiple attempts to depart, the escalating situation in the Gulf left the vessel stranded. Throughout the prolonged delay, officials from the BSC and the Ministry of Shipping maintained regular contact with the crew and closely monitored the ship's movements, ensuring communication and support during the uncertain period.