Bangladeshi Vessel Denied Passage Through Hormuz Despite Ceasefire, Awaits Clearance

10/04/2026

Bangladeshi Vessel Denied Passage Through Hormuz Despite Ceasefire, Awaits Clearance

DUBAI, April 10: A Bangladesh Shipping Corporation vessel, Banglar Joyjatra, has been denied permission to transit the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz despite reaching close to the waterway, highlighting continued disruptions even after the recent ceasefire in the region.

According to officials from Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, the vessel departed the outer anchorage of Dammam on Wednesday after being stranded in the Persian Gulf for nearly 40 days due to the conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. However, upon approaching the strait late Thursday, Iranian authorities refused to grant transit clearance, report Daily Star.

Managing Director Mahmudul Malek said the ship is now being held in a safer location while diplomatic efforts are underway to secure passage. He expressed hope that clearance could be obtained within the next few days.

The vessel, carrying 31 Bangladeshi crew members, had initially sailed to the United Arab Emirates on February 27 with a consignment of steel coils from Qatar before becoming stranded amid escalating hostilities in the Gulf.

Crew members reported that the ship came within approximately 60 nautical miles of the Strait before attempting to contact Iranian authorities via VHF radio. After two unsuccessful attempts, communication was established on the third try, but the request for passage was denied.

Following the refusal, the vessel altered course and anchored near Minasakar in UAE waters, where it currently remains about 20 nautical miles from the Strait, awaiting further instructions.

The incident underscores the fragile security situation in one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, through which a significant portion of global oil shipments passes, and raises concerns over the pace of normalization despite ceasefire efforts.