A MESSAGE FROM BANGLADESHI SAILOR IN THE NIGERIAN JAIL

*** Four BD mariner in Nigerian jail***

***We are just victim here, not convicted***

**Begging for help to all mariner to save us**

Myself Rafiqul Islam, vessel name: MT.Asteris, flag: Panama, rank: 3/E, CDC no: C/O/5869, COC no: BD2003839, passport no: AF6171936. I have joined onboard vessel “MT.Asteris” at Cotonou anchorage (Republic of Benin) on 16-March-2015 under the management of “Western Mediterranean Shipping S.A.” (Greek company) through “AL SOCIETE ALDO line” which is the local agent in Cotonou of that Greek management. I have agreement with “Sea Crown Maritime S.A.” .

After joining onboard I found five nationalities crew- Philipino (08), Bangladeshi (05), Ganian (04), Beninian (04) & Greek technical superindenten (Labros Tsakos). During familiarization I observed all the safety equipments of ship was out of order, about ship’s food & accommodation was in worst condition. When I joined onboard that time there was no more engineer without chief engineer. Another third engineer joined just after 5 days of my joining from Bangladesh. We all Bangladeshi joined on board ship within 2-3 weeks before arrest. Ship’s dead weight 17879 MT. Ship was carrying 3423 MT cargo which was loaded before of our joining (Bangladeshi 05) & we came to know these cargo was loaded at Cotonou anchorage.

After coming onboard I have informed within few days vessel will go for sea trail to clean the marine growth from under water ship’s hull & also to check the machineries performance. Because some repair work has done & ship also was in anchorage for a long time what I have informed from C/E. Just after 10 days of my joining on 26-march -2015 vessel sailed for sea-trail. I have informed from C/E that during sea trail ship will sail within the territory of Cotonou, Republic of Benin. As a third engineer I finished my duty on that night from 12:00am-04:00am, then I went for sleep. Next morning when I woke up that time I came to know ship is arrested by Nigerian Navy. From captain I came to know ship was 100nm / 185km away from nearest land of Lagos, Nigeria, which was the border area of Benin & Nigeria. In that time I did not know what was the reason for arresting.

After arresting Nigerian Navy brought the vessel from border area to Lagos anchorage. On 30-March-2015 Navy took 11 crews including super, captain, C/O, C/E to their detention centre for investigation. After 07 days they came back on board with Navy. Then Navy handover this matter to Nigerian EFCC (Economic & Financial crimes commission) for further investigation.

EFCC took five crews including super, captain, C/O to their detention centre for investigation. After around 1.5 month EFCC released the superintendent & allow him to go back to his country Greece. Just after releasing to superintendent, EFCC published charge sheet against ship & 09 crews among 22 crews from on board on 10-June-2015.This 09 crews are captain, C/O, C/E, 3/O, two 3/E, two pump man & one oiler. These 09 crews from two nationalities (Philipino 05 & Bangladeshi 04). Onboard Ganian & Beninian black crews are working round the year in this ship, but they didn’t came under charge, where we r Bangladeshi totally new but they put us under charges. EFCC put 04 nos charges upon us. Main thing is that all charges about ship’s cargo carrying certificates & cargo certificates which cargo has onboard.

On 18-June-2015 EFCC submit us 09 crews to Federal High Court of Nigeria in Lagos to trail the cases & Court sent us to Ikoyi prison, Lagos. During trail of cases company didn’t arrange our bail. Inside prison no have food supply by govt. It is not possible to get food, even drinking water without pay. Company didn’t arrange for supply of food inside the prison, even didn’t pay us any salary after passing one year now. Company treated with us as like modern times slaves. Some times company also threatened us for asking salary.

Cases was trailed & on 16-December-2015 we got final judgement. According to judgement we all are punished for five years imprisonment or fine of option for each person 20 million Naira (Nigerian currency) which is equivalent to 100,000 USD. Also ship & cargo are forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria. From captain to oiler has punished equally. Only we are 09 crews has punished & other 12 crews are freed, where I was the new onboard.

Our all four charges only about ship’s cargo carrying certificates & cargo certificates which cargo had loaded before of my joining. Now as I am third engineer (operation level), my duty & responsibility is to operation & maintenance of particular machineries in engine room as per the order of chief engineer. I don’t have any connection or access with cargo documents or licenses of the ship. Therefore it is not possible for me to know whether the vessel has any license of the goods the vessel carrying, had proper documents of the goods or not. As per the international maritime law and norm operation level crew like me 3/E, have no involvement at all with the vessel & the cargo the vessel carrying as well as their documents/licenses of the cargo loaded or unloaded. Simply third engineer no have any responsibility about certificate of quality, certificate of quantity & certificate of origin (bill of loading), ullage report or letter of protest of cargo. Ship’s trading plan, ship & cargo matters and it’s documents solely lies with captain, owner, charterer, shipping agent, customs of loading port & the terminal authority.

Actually we all Bangladeshi joined onboard said vessel “MT.Asteris” within 2-3 weeks before sea-trail taken place & eventually capture & arrested. Practically we did not get enough time to familiarize the vessel in this short time.

As per above explanation I didn’t suppose to come under these four charges, moreover I have punished by these charges which is totally injustice upon me. Also superintendent was released by EFCC & allow him to go back his country, he was not under these charges, as i am third engineer they put me under charges & finally punished me.

With me inside prison has another third engineer & one pump man from Bangladesh. Like me by above explanation they should not come under these four charges where all charges only about ship’s cargo carrying certificates & cargo certificates. Simply by above explanation third engineer & pump man have no involvement or access with ship’s cargo carrying certificates & cargo certificates. As we are third engineer & pump man has punished here which is totally injustice, we are shocked . we are just victim here, not convicted.

Now we don’t’ know how suppose to propose our self to all mariner, but now we don’t have any other option without begging help to marine community. Now our life are hanged inside the darkness of African jail for five years. Now we are passing terrible days of our life, as well as our family. As an innocent mariner we are passing 09 months inside jail without doing any crime, where no have humanity, not possible to get food even drinking water without pay. Our life is surrounded by big wall over here in Nigeria, where laws only for the richest. Nigeria is a country where corruption the law & laws are corrupted by unlawful means. Even they don’t know who suppose to punish & who not to be punish. Nigerian judicial system totally corrupted & lengthy. One appeal can take time not less then 2.5 years, even it can run for five years also. Only for one wrong judgement our life are hanged. We tried in some ways to released but we failed. Here no have food to eat, no have water to drink, no have space to sleep, moreover hampering by psychologically, physically & economically. Thanks to Allah still we have fine of option, but this option is out of our capacity. After passing one year we didn’t get any salary & stupid company also abandon us. In this situation we are asking for help to all mariner for coming ahead to realise us. Five years imprisonment is like a death penalty for seaman, this only one mariner can understand. We are begging for help to marine community to release us from here, so that we can also continue in this profession with all of you, please don’t drop us here.

Begging to all BD mariner…….. “Please save our life, save our family & save our career.”

Details about four of us:

1. Rafiqul Islam, CDC no: C/O/5869, rank:   3/E, passport no: AF6171936, joining: 16-March-2015 from Cotonou anchorage, Republic of Benin, Bangladesh Marine Academy, 44th batch, city: Jamalpur.

2. G.M. Shahinul Islam, CDC no: C/O/5303, rank: 3/E, passport no: AF1727571, joining: 22-March-2015 from Cotonou anchorage, Republic of Benin, Bangladesh Marine Fisheries Academy, 26th batch, city: Satkhira.

03.Shaikh Shibly Nomany, CDC no: T/30016, rank: pump man, joining: 03-march-2015 from Cotonou anchorage, Republic of Benin, city: Kushtia.

4. MD Zahirul Islam, CDC no: C/O/5255, passport no: AF9720849, joining: 03-march-2015 from Cotonou anchorage, Republic of Benin, city: Mymensing.

Contact person:

Captain Mohammed Abul Khair,

CEO, Reliance Shipping Service,

Phone: +8801713103044,

Mail: captkhair@yahoo.com

Thanks to all of u………..

***Please share this post to other groups of mariner.*****