Iranian authorities on Friday morning denied transit permission to a Bangladeshi cargo vessel attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, despite formal clearance requests submitted through official channels.
The vessel, MV Banglar Joyjatra, is currently anchored at Mina Saqr anchorage in the United Arab Emirates, roughly 20 nautical miles from the strategic waterway.
Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) Managing Director Commodore Mahmudul Malek confirmed the development in a statement to media on Friday afternoon, saying the ship had applied online for transit approval through Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), but received a negative response.
The vessel had approached the vicinity of the strait at around 8am on Friday before seeking permission to proceed.
Commodore Mahmudul Malek said diplomatic efforts are ongoing to secure clearance and ensure safe passage.
MV Banglar Joyjatra had been waiting in the Persian Gulf for over 40 days due to regional tensions linked to the ongoing conflict. Following a brief ceasefire announcement earlier this week, the ship resumed its journey from Saudi Arabia’s Ras Al-Khair Port carrying around 37,000 tonnes of fertiliser and 31 crew members.
The denial of access comes amid continued uncertainty over the stability of the US-Iran ceasefire arrangement and ongoing regional hostilities, which have disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz - a key global energy route handling around 20 per cent of the world’s oil and fuel trade.
The BSC managing director further said that the vessel remains stationed near the strait while efforts continue through diplomatic channels to resolve the issue.
