Thirteen crew members have gone missing after a light vessel sank in the Bay of Bengal on Saturday morning.
According to the Water Transport Cell (WTC), the cargo-vessel called ‘MV Aktar Banu-1’ carrying around 2,000 tonnes of wheat sank around 10am near Bhasanchar in the turbulent seas.
Water Transport Cell (WTC) coordinates the movement of 1200 individually owned light vessels in Chittagong and nearby areas.
Ataul Kabir Ranju, Joint Secretary of Water Transport Cell (WTC) told the Dhaka Tribune that the vessel was heading towards Narayanganj after loading imported wheat from a ship at the outer anchorage of Chittagong port.
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Nabi Alam, General Secretary of Bangladesh Lighter Vessel Workers’ Union said that the vessel sank due to strong currents in the sea induced by bad weather.
“The 13 crew members aboard have remained missing following the accident. We have informed Bangladesh Coast Guard and Bangladesh Navy for rescuing the missing crew,” said Nabi Alam.
Mohammad Salim, deputy director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) said that Bangladesh Coast Guard and Bangladesh Navy are conducting operations in the Bay in search of the missing crew members.
Besides, another vessel named ‘MV-City-14’ carrying 2,000 tons of sugar sank in the Bay near Bhashanchar in Hatiya around 9am on Saturday, said sources of BIWTA. All 12 crew members of the vessel were rescued with the help of another ship.
