Another lighter vessel capsizes in Bay, 13 crew members missing
Another lighter vessel capsized in the Bay of Bengal on Saturday, with 13 of its crew members missing.
The vessel, MV Akther Banu, capsized at Hatia Channel near Bhashan Char while carrying 750 tonnes of wheat on its way to Narayanganj from Chattogram at noon, said Mohammad Salim, deputy director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).
Due to heavy rolling in the sea, the wheat on board the vessel slid to one side of the ship, causing it to tilt and capsize, he said.
The BIWTA deputy director also said they called upon Bangladesh Navy to conduct a rescue operation.
The sea was rough and there was cautionary signal No-3, he added.
All the 13 crewmen on board the vessel have been missing since it capsized, claimed Md Nabi Alam, general secretary of Bangladesh Lighter Vessel Workers Association.
Earlier on Saturday, a lighter vessel owned by City Group carrying 2,000 tonnes of raw sugar capsized in the Bay of Bengal near Bhashan Char in the morning.
All 12 crew members of the vessel, MV City-14, were rescued by the crew of another vessel, passing through the area.
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