FM seeks Iran’s approval for safe passage of Bangladeshi ship through Hormuz

Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman has again requested Iran to facilitate the safe passage of the Bangladesh-flagged vessel Banglar Joyjatra through the Strait of Hormuz.

He made the request when he met Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey last night.

"We were very thankful when Iran included Bangladesh among the six countries whose vessels would be permitted to cross Hormuz", Khalilur Rahman told the Iranian minister.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister followed up on the matter immediately and informed Bangladesh Foreign Minister that while the situation continues to remain tense, necessary directives have been given to the concerned authorities in Iran.

The two leaders will continue to maintain communication on the matter, according to a foreign ministry statement.

The two sides exchanged views on the evolving situation in the Gulf region and other issues of mutual interest.

During the meeting, the Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman reiterated Bangladesh’s consistent and balanced position on the ongoing developments, underscoring the importance of restraint by all parties and the resolution of differences through dialogue and diplomacy.

The Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister appreciated Bangladesh’s constructive stance and expressed the hope that the Bangladesh's foreign minister would visit Tehran at a mutually convenient time.

Earlier, on April 5, 2026, in Dhaka, the foreign minister held a meeting with Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi, ambassador of Iran to Bangladesh, and requested the facilitation of safe passage for Banglar Joyjatra as well as another Bangladesh-bound vessel carrying crude oil.

The ambassador had conveyed that the Iranian authorities were being approached at appropriate levels in this regard.

He also appreciated Bangladesh’s balanced stance on the current crisis and expressed gratitude to Bangladesh for adopting a condolence motion on the opening day of the 13th Parliament session following the targeted assassination of the late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameini.

He further thanked the government for deputing Secretary (Bilateral) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nazrul Islam, to sign the condolence book at the Embassy of Iran on its behalf.

The Iranian ambassador also conveyed appreciation for Bangladesh's actions to facilitate the dispatch of emergency medical supplies to Iran by the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society

Bangladesh's foreign minister noted at that meeting that he had addressed an official letter to Iranian foreign minister thanking him for the support extended by the government of Iran to the safe passage of 186 Bangladeshis from Iran to Azerbaijan.