Lighter ship carrying 18,000 bags of cement has sunk in the Meghna River
Md. Sharif Hossain:
A lighter ship carrying 18,500 bags of cement belonging to Shah Cement Company has sunk in the Meghna River in Chandpur. The accident occurred in the shop area of Chandpur Sadar Upazila on Thursday (August 14) morning.
Chandpur Naval Police Superintendent Syed Mushfiqur Rahman confirmed the incident.
Lighter ship carrying 18000
According to eyewitnesses and relevant sources, a lighter ship named MV Chandtara-8, while anchored in the morning, dragged its anchor due to strong river currents and fell on another ship, MV Zaman, next to it. As a result, the floor of the engine room of Chandtara-8 burst and water started entering. The master of the ship immediately tried to take it to the river bank, but in the end it was completely submerged along with 18,500 bags of cement.
No casualties were reported in the incident and all the sailors are safe.
Naval Police Superintendent Syed Mushfiqur Rahman said the accident occurred due to the wrong decision and incompetence of the ship’s master. He said, “In the strong current, the master dragged the anchor and launched the ship towards Abhaynagar in Jessore. At that time, it hit another ship nearby and collided.”
Lighter ship carrying 18000
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Chandpur region Deputy Director Bashir Ali Khan said that after receiving the information, the BIWTA’s marking team reached the spot and identified the sunken ship. It is reported that there is about 10 feet of water on the ship’s superstructure.
However, it is located outside the main waterway, so there is no disruption to navigation. Currently, work is underway to mark the ship with a GRP buoy.
