Dhaka, March 24 -- The tense standoff on the high seas continues as Somali pirates aboard the Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah resort to firing blank shots to signal their location, closely trailed by warships from the European Union navy and the Indian navy.

A harrowing account from one of the Bangladeshi crew members reveals the gravity of the situation, stating that the pirates, armed with weapons capable of downing aircraft, have heightened their surveillance over the pirated vessel, exacerbating the already critical shortage of drinkable water and food supplies.

With restrictions placed on cabin usage and everyone compelled to share a single toilet, conditions on board have reached a desperate state.

The presence of armed pirates numb...