Vessel partially sinks
A cargo vessel capsized partially as cracks developed in its hull on the Meghna river near Chandpur launch terminal in the early hours yesterday.
The vessel MV Haji Abdul Jalil started from Haldia Port of India on January 23 with around 850 tonnes of fly ash, a raw material for producing cement, worth around Tk 85 lakhs.
It was heading for Holcim Cement Factory at Narayanganj, said Md Asad, master of the ship.
When the ship reached Meghna river near Chandpur launch terminal, cracks developed in its hull and water started entering the ship.
The ship's crew quickly anchored the vessel on the river's bank near the launch terminal, but around half of the ship sank.
However, there was no causality and all the 11 crew members are safe, though the fly ash was damaged. River police and fire services members were working to raise the vessel.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) joint director Mahmudul Hasan, stationed at Chandpur, told journalists that the ship was unfit and it was overloaded with goods.
“We will take legal action against those responsible,” he said.
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