Editorial
The continuing plight of the sailors
Efforts must be stepped up to free them
The state of uncertainty over the fate of the crew of MV Jahan Moni continues. There is little sign of any progress having been made where freeing the crew, now captive at the hands of Somali pirates, is concerned. Since December 5, when the 26 Bangladeshis aboard the vessel were seized off the coast of Somalia, not much headway has been made in the matter of resolving the crisis. It appears that the government has either been playing a rather cautious role or is inclined to think that the problem will somehow sort itself out. To be sure, the authorities have given it out that they are trying out every means possible to free the captives, among whom is the wife of a member of the crew. That has not been enough. And judging by the result as also the feelings of the families of the captive sailors, there is a clear need for the Bangladesh government to go into high gear in the matter of bringing the crew as well as the ship back home in all safety.
The only development in the crisis so far is the demand from the pirates, as the families of the captives tell us, for a ransom of $9 million from the owning company of the vessel. That demand was made on 12 December, after which ten days have gone by. The worry now is whether the captives are in good shape or not. We would not like to speculate on the worst, but we do bear in mind the fact that the Somali pirates told the owners on 12 December that unless the ransom was made over to them within five days, they would take the lives of the crew. That was a dire threat and one hopes the captors of the crew will not carry it out. But beyond that, the danger for the sailors clearly grows with each passing day. The feeling rises among the families of the hostages that the government may not have been active about bringing a speedy end to the crisis. They have now sought the prime minister's intervention in the matter, for understandable reasons.
The dark nature of the situation cannot be lost on anyone. The Somali pirates have been terrorizing international shipping for long months. With their record for extreme ferocity and inhabiting a country which today is a collapsed state, it is difficult to engage them in direct negotiations. Even so, the government must step up its efforts toward freeing the sailors through making use of every available link. The threat hanging over them is a call for strong, meaningful action on the part of the government.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. 
Related News
An alarming report on children’s exposure to climate risks
3 hour(s) ago
Editorial
Why is safe water inaccessible for millions despite rising spending?
19 June 2026, 08:00 AM
Editorial
BB must confront bad loans’ true scale
18 June 2026, 18:38 PM
Editorial
Dolphin deaths must be investigated
18 June 2026, 08:00 AM
Editorial
Weak policing fuelling rise in crimes
17 June 2026, 18:18 PM
Editorial
Comments