Published: 12:26 AM, 19 April 2026
Bangladeshi vessel turns back
The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) vessel MV Banglar Joyjatra has failed to cross the Strait of Hormuz and has turned back towards its previous position near the UAE coast.
Late Friday, the bulk carrier approached the strategic waterway but was unable to proceed after being "denied permission" by Iranian naval authorities, forcing it to reverse course towards waters off Port of Mina Saqr.
Captain Shafiqul Islam said the vessel changed direction around 1:30am Bangladesh time without crossing the strait and began its return journey, bdnews24 reports.
BSC Managing Director Commodore Mahmudul Malek confirmed that the ship could not pass Hormuz and was heading back.
Earlier, after Iran announced the strait would remain open for commercial vessels, the fertiliser carrier had left anchorage outside Port of Mina Saqr around 9pm on Friday and moved close to the crossing point by late night, awaiting final clearance.
"The Iran Navy rejected our request to transit the Strait of Hormuz and ordered us to turn back," the captain said.
The vessel, which is currently operated under a Singaporean charter, is carrying a cargo of fertiliser destined for Cape Town and Durban in South Africa.
All 31 crew members on board are Bangladeshi nationals.
This latest setback follows a string of unsuccessful attempts to exit the Persian Gulf.
On Apr 8, the ship departed the Saudi Port of Ras Al Khair hoping to utilise a ceasefire window but was denied entry to the strait.
A following attempt to sail from Jebel Ali was also thwarted when the UAE Coast Guard warned the crew of increasing risks along the route.
The vessel had entered Middle Eastern waters on Jan 26 and transported cargo to several regional ports.
On Feb 26, it carried 38,800 tonnes of steel coils from Qatar's Mesaieed Port to anchorage off Jebel Ali, berthing the following day.
Subsequent US and Israeli strikes on Iran from Feb 28 delayed cargo unloading, with a missile hitting an oil facility about 200m from the ship shortly after docking, sparking a fire.
The volatile situation, marked by drone and missile activity across the region, left the crew operating under sustained security concerns.
After unloading, the vessel was initially scheduled to return to Qatar, but the plan was cancelled due to the conflict. It was then set to sail to Mumbai.
To reach Mumbai, the vessel needed to cross the Strait of Hormuz.
It set off for that purpose, but vessel movement through the key global trade route had effectively remained suspended due to the war situation.
