Vessel capsized near Sundarbans yet to be salvaged

Though three days have passed but no step has yet been taken to salvage the coal-laden vessel that capsized in the Pashur river in Mongla upazila near the Sundarbans on 14 April, reports UNB.

The owner of the cargo is yet to tell the exact time of starting the salvage work, said divisional forest officer of Sundarbans Md Mahmudul Hasan.

"The forest department is yet to start the investigation as the cargo owner did not provide them any necessary documents of the vessel, None of the owner side was available to interrogate", he said.

Meanwhile, cargo owner Md Sohel Uddin told UNB that the salvage work will begin within one or two days and they have appointed a private company to salvage the vessel.

Earlier on 14 April, the vessel 'MV-Bilash' carrying 775 tonnes of coal capsized in the Pashur river near the Sundarbans.

With the latest one, at least eight commercial ships sank in the river in the last five years.

After the accident, Mongla port authorities said they ordered the owner to salvage the cargo within the next 15-20 days.

The port authorities said if the owners fail to salvage the vessel, the port authorities will sell it in auction and then they would work to retrieve the cargo.