Two die in fishing trawler fire in Karnaphuli River

Two greasers on the vessel FB Desh died on their way to Dhaka

Two of the six people burnt in a fire on a fishing trawler anchored in the Karnaphuli River in Chattogram have died on the way to Dhaka.

Rubel and Shah Alam, two greasers on the fishing trawler FB Desh, died on Tuesday night, the ship's captain Zubair Mahmud told bdnews24.com.

He said, "They set off for Dhaka at night and two of them died on the way. Then, their bodies were handed over to their families as per their wishes. Rubel's home is in Galachipa in the Patuakhali District and Shah Alam's home is in Noakhali."

The funeral and burial of the two deceased were held at their respective homes this morning, Captain Zubair said.

Meanwhile, the burned cadet engineer of the fishing trawler, Ashiquzzaman Tamim, has been admitted to the ICU of the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute in Dhaka, he said.

A fire broke out in the engine room of the fishing trawler FB Desh, which was anchored in the Sadarghat section of the Karnaphuli River around 12:45pm on Tuesday. Six people were burnt in the fire.

Three of the burn victims were in critical condition and were sent to Dhaka for advanced treatment.

The three other burn victims were winch operator Nizam Uddin, diver Russell and sailor Siddique Ahmed. After the incident, they received treatment at the burn unit of Chattogram Medical College Hospital.

Captain Zubair said that the three victims at CMCH have been discharged and have gone to their respective homes.

After fishing in the sea, the FB Desh anchored in an area adjacent to the Sadarghat Sampan Dock on the Karnaphuli River around 2pm on Monday.

On Tuesday afternoon there was a sudden loud noise and a fire broke out in the ship's engine room. Trawler officials said that the fire could have started from sparking in the generator.

Captain Zubair, on behalf of FB Desh, filed a general diary at the city's Sadarghat Police Station regarding the fire.