Sunken cargo vessel finally salvaged from Posshur

The sunken coal laden cargo vessel MV-Bilash was salvaged on Wednesday evening, nearly six weeks after it capsized carrying 775 metric tonnes of coal in the Posshur River in Mongla upazila near the Sundarbans last 14 April.

Talking to UNB, Soharab Hossain, head of rescue team, said the ‘MV-Bilash’ capsized due to a crack on the lower part of the cargo. The cargo went under water by dividing into two parts.

At first, a 21-member rescue team conducted the rescue work on 20 April and the rescue work was suspended on 10 May after 400 tonnes of coal were removed from the sunken vessel in 21 days. But more than 300 metric tonnes of coal got washed away by the river.

The cargo was dragged to the shore with the help of two cranes after eight days’ hard effort. The salvaged cargo will be handed over to the owners on Thursday, he added.

After MV-Bilash finally salvaged from Posshur sank, Md Shamsul Haque, acting officer of Harbaria Eco-Tourism Center of Sundarbans East Zone, filed the case with Mongla Police Station accusing nine persons, mentioning the quantity of damage to be just Tk 1.24 million.

The quantity of damage will be increased as the cargo was under water and salvaged after 1.5 months. A written report will be submitted to police soon after monitoring the quantity of damage, Shamsul Haque added.