After an announcement that the Strait of Hormuz had reopened, the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) vessel MV Banglar Joyjatra lifted anchor on Friday night and began its journey. However, only a few hours after departure, the ship reportedly received a radio message from Iranian forces instructing it to return to the Persian Gulf. Following the order, the vessel turned back and headed again to a safer position in the Gulf.

Captain Shafiqul Islam Khan told local media via WhatsApp around 12:45 a.m. that the crew had started the voyage after hearing restrictions were lifted, but later they were denied permission to pass through Hormuz. He said the ship was now returning to its previous location in the Persian Gulf.

Earlier that night, BSC Managing Director Commodore Mahmudul Malek had said the vessel entered the Strait of Hormuz at 11:50 p.m. Bangladesh time and was expected to complete the crossing around 3:00 a.m.

According to MarineTraffic, a ship-monitoring website, many vessels stranded in the Persian Gulf had started moving toward the Strait after reports that the route was open. More than a hundred ships were seen heading at full speed toward Hormuz. But by around 12:45 a.m., tracking data showed those vessels reversing course and returning to the Gulf, including Banglar Joyjatra.

The BSC vessel has been operating in the Persian Gulf since February 2, transporting cargo between ports in the region. On March 11, the corporation decided to bring it back, but it was unable to pass through Hormuz at that time due to lack of permission.

Later, the ship loaded around 37,000 tons of fertilizer at Saudi Arabia’s Ras Al Khair port, destined for Cape Town, South Africa. Even after a ceasefire began, the vessel was reportedly denied permission again during a second attempt. Since then, it had remained anchored near Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. On Friday, its third attempt to cross the strait also ended in another return.