1 dead, 26 missing in Bay vessel capsize

One person died and 26 crewmen went missing after a fishing vessel capsized after allegedly being hit by a ship in the Bay of Bengal in the early hours of today.
FV Bandhan, a vessel of Bengal Fisheries Limited, capsized with 29 crewmen on board about 30 nautical miles northwest off the coast of Saint Martins’ Island when a Singapore-bound merchant vessel Bashundhara-8 hit the vessel around 3:10am, said Kazi Kamrul Amin, assistant manager of the fisheries farm.

Three crews including Junior Officer Sajib Hossain, 25, sailor Nasir, 50 and Lavlu, 30, were rescued by the crews of a fishing trawler Shatabdi immediately while Lavlu died later, reports our Chittagong correspondent quoting Amin.
“Our vessel was engaged in collecting shrimp at the fishing zone in the Bay during the accident,” Amin said.
He blamed negligence of the crews of Bashundhara-8 for the accident.

Immediate after the incident, Bangladesh Navy ship BNS Samudro Joy intercepted Bashundhara-8 and later let it go after collecting documents and evidences, said a Navy official preferring anonymity.
Lt Commander Khaja Masum, a Navy official stationed in Chittagong said BNS Samudro Joy conducted in the rescue and salvage operation since 4:30am and later in the morning another Navy ship BNS Atondra, a maritime patrol aircraft and a helicopter, joined the operation while BNS Adamya was sent from Chittagong in the afternoon along with modern rescue equipment.
No more crew could be rescued till the evening, said the Navy official who said, adding the rescue operation in the spot was quite complex due to higher depth of sea, filthy weather and strong current.
Marchantile Marine Department (MMD) formed a three-member committee led by MMD Engineer and Ship Survayor ASM Sirajul Islam to investigate the incident, said MMD Principal Officer Shafiqul Islam.
Bengal Fisheries Ltd lodged two general diaries with Potenga and Bandar police stations and submitted a complaint to the MMD.