BIWTA signs agreement with private entity to salvage sunk ferry
The private company verbally agreed to conduct the rescue operation on Sunday
The authorities of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) signed an agreement on Sunday with Genuine Enterprise, a private company in Chittagong, to hand over the salvage operations of the Amanat Shah ferry that sank at Paturia Ghat.
The company will conduct the recovery operation at a cost of around Tk2 crore.
Badiul Alam, CEO and owner of Genuine Enterprise said rescue workers will arrive at the scene on Monday afternoon with the necessary equipment to salvage the sunken ferry, and divers would inspect the spot on Monday to conduct a salvage operation based on their decision.
He also said, "About 50 workers will be participating in recovering the sunken ferry. The salvage operation will be done using 5 powerful Vince trucks."
Md Fazlul Rahman, joint-director (Rescue) of BIWTA, said, "Genuine Enterprise will start the recovery operation on Monday using six separate Weinsbergs (specialized vehicles) at Ghat no 5 and BIWTA shall bear all costs following approval of the ministry."
Amanat Shah, a ferry loaded with 14 covered van trucks and four motorcycles on board, sank close to Paturia Ferry Ghat on Wednesday morning. After four days of operations, salvage ships Hamza and Rustam recovered all the vehicles that were on board the sunken ferry.