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A bulkhead ship named 'MV Safia' sank carrying 175 tonnes of government rice for the poor and destitute on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
On Sunday (March 31) after noon, when the bulkhead reached the tri-estuary of Pasur river in Mongla port, another lighter vessel named 'MV Shahazada-6' coming from the opposite direction hit it from behind and this accident took place.
However, no one was injured, 5 sailors on board were rescued alive. According to naval police sources, MV King Sajjad-6 lighter was seized in the evening. Mongla Naval Police Deputy Inspector (SI) Syed Fakrul Islam confirmed the matter to the media.
Naval Police Office Incharge Syed Fakrul Islam said, on the occasion of Eid, a bulkhead vessel named 'MV Safia' loaded with rice left the government food warehouse in Khulna on Sunday morning with 175 metric tons of government rice in 6,000 sacks for Mongla food warehouse. When the bulkhead reached the tri-estuary of Pasur river in Mongla port after noon, it was hit from behind by the lighter vessel MV Shahzada-6 coming from the opposite direction. In this, the bulkhead ship 'MV Safia' sank with government rice. However, the five sailors on board the bulkhead quickly swam ashore and survived.
Neither the sunken bulkhead vessel nor the salvaging of the rice was commenced. However, from Monday (April 1) morning, the lifting of the government rice and the rescue of the sinking bulkhead will be started, said the official of the naval police.
Bangladesh /IJ
