A bulkhead named MV Safiya has capsized with 6,000 sacks of rice intended for the poor and helpless for the upcoming Eid in Mongla, Bagerhat.
The accident occurred after MV Shahajada-6, a lighter cargo ship, collided with it in the Poshur River near Mongla port on Sunday afternoon.
However, no casualties were reported at the time.
Mongla River Police Officer-in-Charge SI Sayed Fakhrul Islam said MV Shahajada-6 was seized on Sunday evening.
He said: “A bulkhead named MV Safiya left for Mongla food warehouse from Khulna's government food warehouse with 175 tons of rice in 6,000 gunny sacks intended for the poor and helpless for the upcoming Eid.
“... When MV Shahajada-6, coming from behind, collided with it, MV Safiya ship carrying government rice sank. However, the five sailors on the bulkhead managed to swim to shore and save their lives.”
Efforts to recover the rice from the submerged bulkhead ship were set to start on Monday morning.
