Bangladeshi captain endures 115 days trapped in Gulf amid missile strikes
Captain Mohammad Shafiqul Islam spent nearly four months stuck in the Gulf as missile attacks and a Hormuz blockade halted his bulk carrier’s voyage.
The Banglar Joyjatra, a bulk carrier chartered by a Singapore firm, arrived in the Gulf a month before the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran in February. Captain Mohammad Shafiqul Islam, responsible for 31 crew members, a $40 million ship and $8.2 million of cargo, witnessed a missile hit an oil storage facility just 200 metres away and endured repeated strikes that disabled the vessel’s navigation system.
With the Strait of Hormuz effectively blockaded, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard repeatedly refused the ship entry, leading to dwindling supplies and strict rationing. Crew morale faltered, with some sailors turning to the Quran or TikTok for comfort. Following a cease-fire announcement in April, the ship made another attempt and finally received clearance on June 23, ending the ordeal and allowing the crew to relax after months of tension.
Why it matters
The story shows how regional conflicts can disrupt global shipping routes and endanger crews far from home.
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