MV Bilash capsize: Rescue operation yet to start

Sahara Enterprise has confirmed an effort to salvage a sunken coal-laden vessel in Harbaria area in the Sundarbans, not far from the Mongla port.

Bagerhat Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 17 April 2018, 08:50 AM
Updated : 17 April 2018, 08:50 AM

A rescue ship has been sent to the disaster site, Md Lalon Howladar, manager (operations) at Sahara Enterprise, told bdnews24.com. 

The rescue operation will start as soon as the ship reaches the spot, he said.

MV Bilash, a vessel loaded with 775 tonnes of coal, capsized in the Harbaria area on Sunday.

The forest department and Sahara Enterprise that used the vessel for coal imports filed three separate general diaries with Mongla Police Station in Bagerhat over the incident.  

A three-member team led by Md Emdadul Haque, assistant director of the forest department in Bagerhat, has been formed to investigate the incident. 

The team has collected the samples of water on Monday. Environment officials have also visited the site and expressed their concern over the risks stemming from the disaster.    

The port authority said two days have passed since the incident but the rescue operation has yet to start due to the inactiveness of the importing company.

A part of the ship is still visible, the Mongla Port’s Harbour Master Md Waliullah told bdnews24.com.

He said the port authority will take legal action against the importer if the rescue operation does not start in 15 days.

Shipping on the port channel continued unhindered, said Waliullah.