Armed Gang Ties & Beats Crew During Violent Ship Robbery At Mongla Port

An armed gang attacked a stranded cargo ship early Monday morning, May 26, tying up the crew and looting goods worth around BDT 5 million (approx. USD 45,000).

The ship, identified as MV Sejunti (also referred to as Shejyoti in reports), has been docked in the Base Creek area of the Pashur Channel since June 2024 after unloading a cargo of stones from India. It has remained idle due to a mechanical fault.

The 5,400 dwt vessel, owned by PNN Shipping Lines, had seven Bangladeshi crew members onboard, including the chief officer, when the incident took place.

According to Sharif Jahidul Karim Amit, manager at local agent Al Safa Shipping Lines, the robbery occurred in the early hours of May 26. A group of 14 men, armed with locally made weapons, boarded the ship from a fishing trawler and held the crew at gunpoint.

The intruders tied the hands and feet of all onboard, before beating three of them. The injured were treated with first aid arranged through the shipping agent.

The robbers spent about two hours ransacking the vessel, stealing items including crane grabs, engine bearings, wire ropes, fuel oil, mobile phones, and other ship supplies.

The gang stole seven mobile phones belonging to the crew. The value of stolen goods has been estimated at approximately BDT 5 million, including BDT 500,000 (USD 4,100) worth of items confirmed by local reports.

This was not the first time MV Sejunti was attacked. The ship has reportedly been targeted three times while anchored in the Mongla Port channel. Amit described this latest attack as the most severe so far.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard has launched an intelligence-led operation to arrest the attackers and recover the stolen goods. Lieutenant Commander Harun Or Rashid, the Coast Guard’s media officer, confirmed that the West Zone team is actively working on the case.

Meanwhile, security firm Ambrey Analytics reported that the robbers were equipped with bladed weapons and blunt objects. They advised all vessels in Bangladeshi waters to tighten security and maintain strict watchkeeping routines, especially while at anchor.

This incident follows a series of similar crimes in Mongla Port in recent years. In March, the Coast Guard arrested five men who were allegedly preparing for a ship robbery. They were found with sharp weapons and illegal narcotics, and were believed to be part of a larger network involved in robberies and drug trafficking.

Back in 2022, another gang looted a Liberian-flagged cargo ship anchored at Mongla Port, taking away ropes, paint, and machinery, which were later recovered by the authorities.

In the latest incident, a written complaint has been filed with the Mongla Port Authority, the Coast Guard, and other law enforcement agencies requesting immediate action.

Md. Makruzzaman, Deputy Director (Board and Public Relations) of Mongla Port Authority, confirmed that they are aware of the incident and that an investigation is underway.

References: worldports, bd-pratidin

Source: Maritime Shipping News