Mongla, Bagerhat, MAY 27 (V7N) – A commercial ship named MV Sejunti, anchored in the Bess Creek of Mongla Port, was the target of a brutal armed robbery late Monday night. An organized gang of robbers reportedly held the ship's crew and staff hostage, beat them with locally made weapons, and looted goods worth approximately Tk 2.2 million, including bearings, equipment, scrap, and warheads. Three crew members sustained injuries during the assault. The incident occurred in the Bess Creek area of the port channel (Pashur River) in the early hours of Monday.Sharif Jahidul Karim Amit, Khulna manager of the ship's local shipping agent Al Safa Shipping Lines, stated that the MV Sejunti, owned by Bangladeshi company PNN Shipping Lines, had arrived from India with a cargo of stones and completed unloading at the Bess Creek area of Mongla seaport on June 22nd of last year. Due to an unexpected mechanical failure, the ship has been stranded in the port channel for nearly a year. The ship has 7 crew and staff, including the chief officer.

A group of 14 robbers, armed with domestic weapons, attacked the ship from a fishing trawler in the port channel in the early hours of Monday morning. During the robbery, the assailants tied the hands and feet of the sailors with ropes and ransacked the ship for about two hours. They looted various items, including cranes used for cargo unloading, the warroof (rope/cable) for tying the ship, engine bearings, a large quantity of fuel oil, and mobile phones and supplies. Seven mobile phones belonging to the sailors were also taken. Three ship staff members were injured by the armed robbers' beatings and received first aid with the assistance of the shipping agent.

Sharif Zahidul Karim Amit also mentioned that this was the third time the ship in the Mongla Port channel had been attacked and looted. The latest incident on Monday morning saw robbers making off with cargo valued at approximately Tk 2.2 million at gunpoint. He confirmed that a written complaint has been filed with the Mongla Port Authority, Coast Guard, and other law enforcement agencies, requesting immediate action.In response to the incident, Coast Guard Media Officer (Dhaka) Lieutenant Commander Harun Or Rashid stated that an operation has been launched by the Coast Guard West Zone to recover the stolen goods and apprehend the bandit group through intelligence activities.

Meanwhile, regarding the robbery of a commercial ship in the port channel, Mongla Port Authority Deputy Director (Board and Public Relations Department) Md. Makruzzaman said, "I have heard about the incident, and an investigation is underway."

END/AHS/RH/