A maritime crisis is unfolding in the Middle East as four Bangladeshi-flagged merchant vessels find themselves caught in the crossfire of a volatile military confrontation near the Strait of Hormuz. The situation escalated dramatically when a state-owned vessel narrowly escaped a direct hit from an Iranian drone strike at the Port of Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
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A Near-Miss at Jebel Ali
On Saturday, 28 February 2026, the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) vessel, MV Banglar Joyjatra, was docked at Jebel Ali with 31 crew members on board. Reports indicate that an Iranian drone exploded a mere 100 yards from the ship’s bow. Atikul Huq, a sailor on the vessel, described the harrowing ordeal on social media, noting that the flash of the explosion and the deafening blast created a “moment of absolute terror,” leading the crew to believe they were the primary target.
The vessel, which arrived from Qatar’s Mesaieed port carrying 38,800 tonnes of steel coils, remains trapped within the Strait of Hormuz. While cargo discharging has fitfully resumed after a two-day suspension, the ship cannot currently exit the war-torn zone due to a “Red Alert” status maintained by regional maritime authorities.
Wider Impact on Bangladeshi Shipping
The BSC vessel is not alone in its predicament. Three other significant vessels owned by Bangladeshi industrial conglomerates are currently navigating the perilous waters of the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman. To mitigate the risk of being targeted or caught in secondary explosions, these ships have been ordered to reduce speed or halt their journeys entirely.
Status of Bangladeshi Vessels Near the Conflict Zone:
| Vessel Name | Ownership Group | Current Location / Status | Destination |
| MV Banglar Joyjatra | Bangladesh Shipping Corp | Jebel Ali, UAE (Trapped) | Discharging Cargo |
| Confidential Vessel 1 | KSRM Group | Arabian Sea (Speed Reduced) | Salalah, Oman |
| Confidential Vessel 2 | KSRM Group | Arabian Sea (Speed Reduced) | Kuwait |
| Mercantile Shipping | Meghna Group (MGI) | Arabian Sea (Journey Halted) | Khor Fakkan, UAE |
Strategic Deterrence and Safety Measures
Meherul Karim, Executive Director of the KSRM Group, confirmed that two of their vessels—originally bound for Oman and Kuwait—were only days away from their destinations. However, following the drone strike, the company issued immediate directives to decelerate and maintain a safe distance from the Strait of Hormuz until a security corridor is established.
Similarly, a vessel belonging to Mercantile Shipping Lines (a subsidiary of MGI) has suspended its voyage. The ship was scheduled to refuel at the Port of Khor Fakkan in Sharjah but is now holding its position in the open waters of the Arabian Sea to ensure the safety of its crew.
The Looming Maritime Threat
The Strait of Hormuz remains the world’s most sensitive oil chokepoint. The recent exchange of hostilities has turned this commercial artery into a combat zone, leaving neutral merchant vessels in a precarious legal and physical position. For Bangladesh, whose economy relies heavily on industrial imports and energy supplies through these routes, the prolonged entrapment of these vessels represents both a humanitarian concern for the sailors and a significant logistical bottleneck for the nation’s industries.