Four Bangladeshi sailors have described their harrowing experience after surviving a missile attack on a Marshall Islands-flagged crude oil tanker named ‘MKD VYOM’ about five nautical miles off Muscat, Oman. The incident occurred on March 1 in the Persian Gulf, when a powerful missile struck the ship’s engine room, causing a massive explosion and fire. The vessel was carrying 60,000 metric tons of gasoline, and 22 crew members were on board, including four Bangladeshis and mostly Indian nationals. One Indian sailor was killed despite desperate rescue efforts by the Bangladeshi crew.

According to a statement from the Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers Association (BMMOA), the Bangladeshi sailors—Habibur Rahman, Monirul Alam Joy, Rifat Mahmud, and Mohammad Abu Naser—played key roles in firefighting and rescuing their colleagues under extreme danger. They battled flames and toxic smoke for hours, using buckets of seawater when extinguishers ran out. The ship’s captain later ordered evacuation due to explosion risks, and the crew were rescued by another vessel. The four Bangladeshis returned home safely on March 4 and reached their families by March 6.

BMMOA President Captain Md. Anam Chowdhury praised the sailors’ bravery, calling their actions a rare example of courage in maritime emergencies.