Shipwreck in Bay of Bengal, 13 sailors not rescued in 24 hours.A ship named ‘MV Akhtar Banu’ sank in the Bay of Bengal near Bhasanchar with 800 tons of wheat. Although 24 hours have passed since the accident, the 13 sailors of the ship have not been found yet.
The matter has been confirmed by the vice-president of Bangladesh Lighter Workers Union and the joint-secretary of the Boat Workers Federation Md. Nabi Alam.
He said MV Akhtar Banu was going to Narayanganj after unloading wheat imported from a large ship stationed at the outer port of Chattagram port. The ship sank in rough seas on Saturday (August 15th) at around 11:00 am in hostile weather. Since then, no trace of the 13 sailors of the ship has been found.
Nabi Alam said, “Immediately after the accident, we informed the Coast Guard East and Hatia Coast Guard. But they did not campaign in the rough seas. The owner did not send the ship. We protested against them in the morning.”
Lighter Workers Union President Rahim said, ‘The local agent of the ship is Shah Amanat Shipping in Majhirghat. Abul Khair’s group was transporting wheat. I have repeatedly asked the owner to send a ship to rescue the sailors. But so far no action has been taken.
“The Navy and the Coast Guard were informed about the accident,” Shah Amanat Shipping Officer Pervez told. The sailors were not found even after searching locally with trawlers.
Lieutenant Biswajit Barua, Hatia Station Commander of the Coast Guard told, “After receiving the news, we are conducting a search operation in the sea with our own boat.”
But there is nothing to say yet. If necessary, the rescue ship will also be used.
It may be mentioned that another lighterage ship sank in the rough sea on Saturday morning on its way from Chittagong to Narayanganj with 2,000 tons of unrefined sugar in bad weather in the same area of the sea. However, 12 sailors of the ship were rescued unharmed.
News Room, August 16,2020