DHAKA: The seven Bangladeshi crew members returned home on Thursday morning, who were on board the Malaysian ship, MV Albedo, hijacked more than three and a half years ago.

The crews are-Golam Mostafa, Habibur Rahman, Abul Kashem Sakar, Nurul Haque, Limon Sarkar, Aminul Islam and Jakir Hossain. 

Foreign Ministry Secretary Khurshid Alam (Maritime unit) and other high officials of the government received them at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after arriving by a flight of Emirates Airlines EK-582 around 8:40am Thursday. 

Earlier on June 6, Somali pirates released seven Bangladeshi crews, who were on board of a Malaysian flagged-vessel MV Albedo that was hijacked on 26 November 2010, after a long persuasion by the government as well as relevant international organizations.

Later on Saturday, they were being flown to Nairobi by a special aircraft of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Kenya where the Bangladesh High Commission arranged for their travel documents as well as accommodation, medical checkup and air ticket to Bangladesh.  

The Government of Bangladesh deeply appreciates the role of United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the London-based Maritime Piracy and Humanitarian Response Programme (MPHRP) for their continuous support and assistance in the release of the seven abducted Bangladeshi crew members.

The foreign ministry said it had been “pro-actively” engaged with all concerned, both at home and abroad, since the unfortunate abduction of its nationals, along with crewmen from India, Sri Lanka, Iran and Pakistan.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had earlier directed all concerned to do whatever necessary for their speedy and safe release.

BDST: 0950 HRS, JUN 12, 2014