Foreign minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said that there had been progress in the government’s efforts to free the Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah, which was hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean along with 23 sailors on board.

‘Our aim is to rescue the sailors unharmed and at the same time rescue the ship. I just want to say that we have advanced much,’ he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.

Hasan Mahmud said that they were in contact and were making multifaceted efforts to rescue the crew members.

Regarding the reported food shortage on the ship, he said food shortage has never happened in the past when ships have been hijacked. ‘Hopefully it won’t happen in this case either.’

After nine days of taking the Bangladeshi ship and holding 23 sailors hostage, Somali pirates contacted the owners.