The government has banned the plying of all kinds of vessels through Shela River route until further notice.
The decision of the ban comes two days after a coal-laden cargo vessel capsized in Shela River.
Divisional Forest Officer Md Saidul Islam of the Sundarbans’ Chandpai range told the Dhaka Tribune: "BIWTA has taken the decision on Monday morning to avoid further incident of any vessel's sinking in the river."
Jahangir Alam, public relations officer of Shipping Ministry, said: “As per the decision, no vessels including commercial transports have been allowed to use the Shela River route since morning.”
The water vessels have been instructed to use alternative route through Gasilakhali channel of the Sundarbans, he added.
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On Sunday night, the forest department filed a case with Shoronkhola police station seeking Tk5 crore compensation.
Sundarbans' west range station officer Md Sultan Mahmud filed the case against six persons.
The accused are MV Sea Horse 1 owner Monira Kabir, Samata Shipping and Trading Agency owner Md Azizur Rahman, its manager Md Jalal Hossain, capsized cargo vessel master Sirajul Islam, its pilot Ismail Foraji and Md Shahidul Islam.
On Saturday, Jessore-bound MV Sea Horse 1 from Chittagong – with 1,235 tonnes of coal – sank in the Shela River at Harintana. All 14 crew members of the vessel, owned by Shamata Trading Agency, managed to swim ashore after the incident.
The Department of Forest on Sunday formed a four-member committee, headed by Assistant Conservator of Forest Kamal Ahmed, to find out the possible reasons behind the vessel capsize.
Earlier on December 10, 2014 the government banned the plying of all kinds of vessels through the route until further notice following oil tanker crash in the river.
Later, the route was temporally reopened to water vessels on January 6 last year.
On December 9, 2014 the oil tanker sank in the river with some 350,000 litres of furnace oil.
