18 crew member including 5 Bangladeshis rescued after missile attack on merchant ship in Arabian Sea
According to the rescued, the attack triggered fires in several parts of the vessel, forcing the captain to order an abandonment after the engine failed and the situation became uncontrollable.
Eighteen crew members, including five Bangladeshis, have been rescued after a Panama-flagged merchant vessel came under a missile attack in the Arabian Sea, highlighting growing risks to key shipping routes in the region.
The vessel, MV Gold Autumn, was travelling from Shanghai, China, to Sohar, Oman, and was approaching the Strait of Hormuz when it was struck by multiple missiles on Tuesday (7 April) afternoon, a day before a ceasefire took effect in the region.
The ship had 22 crew members on board – six Bangladeshis, 11 Chinese nationals, three Indonesians, and one each from Vietnam and Myanmar.
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Four crew members, including the captain and another Bangladeshi identified as Mazharul Abedin Shawon, remain on board the damaged vessel to assist in bringing it to shore.
According to the rescued, the attack triggered fires in several parts of the vessel, forcing the captain to order an abandonment after the engine failed and the situation became uncontrollable.
Four crew members, including one Bangladeshi, escaped in a lifeboat but were left adrift in rough seas after its engine failed, leaving them vulnerable to strong waves and bad weather. They were rescued by a passing vessel, MV Eunice.
"We had almost lost hope. After several hours, we spotted a vessel and used flares to get attention. Eventually, we reached it by rowing," said Bangladeshi sailor Ehsan Sabri Rihad, describing the ordeal over the phone.
Later, the Pakistan Navy launched a rescue operation, recovering 14 more crew members from the damaged ship and taking custody of the four survivors, bringing the total number rescued to 18.
The rescued sailors were taken to Karachi port on Wednesday (8 April), where they received primary treatment before being moved to a hotel on Thursday night (9 April).
Five Bangladeshi sailors – Towhidur Rahman, Saikat Pal, Riyad Hossain, Abdullah Al Maruf, and Rihad – are currently in Karachi.
Rihad said the missile strike destroyed essential documents, including passports and continuous discharge certificates, creating uncertainty over their return home.
"We want to return as soon as possible. Our documents were burned in the fire. We hope the embassy will take steps," he said.
Officials of the Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers' Association said they are maintaining communication with the relevant authorities and working to facilitate the sailors' return.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, with key shipping routes such as the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz facing increased security risks.
