Mongla cargo ship capsize: Bodies of 2 sailors recovered, 3 still missing

The Bangladesh Coast Guard has recovered the bodies of two missing sailors from Harbaria-9 area of the Mongla Port channel in Bagerhat, 20 hours after a cargo vessel capsized there.

A coast guard rescue team recovered the bodies on Tuesday evening but three sailors of the cargo vessel were still missing until Tuesday evening.

Preparations were underway to take the bodies to Mongla police station where sailors who were rescued alive earlier, would identify their fellows.

At 9:30pm on Monday, coal-laden cargo vessel MV Fardin-1 sank in Harbaria-9 area of the Mongla Port channel after colliding with Panama-flagged ship Handipark. Five of the seven sailors on the cargo vessel went missing.

The missing sailors are boatman Mohiuddin of Saurabhkathi upazila of Pirojpur, Rabiul and Nur Alam of the same area, Jihad of Bhandaria upazila in Pirojpur, and Shamsu of the Mongla area.

The sailors who were rescued alive on Monday night are Raihan Chowdhury of Pitkhali village in Bhandaria upazila and Md Rubel from Makardon Narikel Tala in Mongla upazila of Bagerhat.

Rescued sailor Raihan Chowdhury said, "We were going to Dhaka carrying coal in our cargo hold. Suddenly, a mother vessel hit us and within moments we sank."

Md Lokman Hossain, supervisor of a labour contracting organisation at the port, said, "The cargo ship Fardin-1 was going to Dhaka after loading 350 tons of coal from a foreign ship stationed at the port. The Panama-flagged mother vessel Handipark, while leaving the port after unloading, collided head-on with the cargo ship and the cargo ship sank immediately. Another launch arrived and rescued two of the seven sailors of the cargo, but five sailors went missing."

Lieutenant Commander Md. Hasanuzzaman, Coast Guard intelligence officer, said, "The Coast Guard rescue team reached the area at night after receiving the news. We have recovered the bodies of two of the five missing sailors. Three sailors are still missing. Our rescue operation for the missing sailors is continuing."

Harbour Master of Mongla Port, Commander Sheikh Fakhruddin, said MV Fardin-1 was not permitted to transport commercial goods under the Bangladesh Shipping Act and had been illegally transporting coal.

Earlier, on the night of 26 February, a government cargo ship named MV BB-1148 sank in the Pashur river near Mongla Port with 700 tonnes of coal. It took about 18 days to rescue the cargo.

On 31 March, the lighter ship MV Ifsiha Mahin left for Jashore from the port carrying 700 metric tonnes of coal. On its way, the lighter ship got stuck with a shoal in the Poshur channel and sank.

Earlier on 8 October, a cargo ship MV Deshbandhu carrying manure got stuck with a shoal at Kanainagar area of Pashur channel while going to Jashore. When an attempt was made to release the ship from there, it tilted and sank in a moment.

On 9 October, another cargo ship, MV Beauty Lohagora-2, carrying 1200 metric tonnes of stones got stuck with Dublar Char while going to Khulna. After hearing the screams and shouts of the master and sailors of the lighter cargo ship, the members of the Coast Guard Dubla camp rushed to the spot and rescued the 10 sailors on board. The cargo sank at the Fairway buoy area near the port.