Five abducted Bangladeshis return from Yemen

Five Bangladeshi nationals, who were abducted by the Houthi coast guard in the African country in February last year, have returned to Bangladesh from Yemen after getting freed.

The rescued Bangladeshis are Mohammed Yousuf, Mohammad Alauddin, Mohammed Alamgir, Mohammed Rahim Uddin, and Mohammed Abu Tayub, said a media statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday. 

According to the press statement, the Bangladeshis were sailing from Oman to Saudi Arabia by a ship. Suddenly, the ship fell in a storm and sank near Al Salaif Port of Hodeida in Yemen on 12 February last year. Then, all of the crew members, including five Bangladeshi nationals, were arrested by the Houthi Coast Guard. 

The Bangladesh's foreign ministry coordinated with Bangladesh embassy in Muscat, Kuwait and Amman and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to rescue the abducted Bangladesh nationals. 

Later, with the help of the IOM, they were taken to Aden from Saana. Among the rescued persons, there were Indian and Egyptian nationals too.  

Earlier this, two other Bangladeshi nationals – Jamal Uddin and Rafiqul – who were detained in Aden, were also repatriated.