In a distressing turn of events, the bulkhead vessel MV Safiya has capsized in Mongla, Bagerhat, carrying 6,000 sacks of rice designated for the needy ahead of Eid.
The incident unfolded when MV Shahajada-6, a lighter cargo ship, collided with MV Safiya in the Poshur River near Mongla port on Sunday afternoon. Fortunately, no casualties were reported at the scene.
Officer-in-Charge SI Sayed Fakhrul Islam from Mongla River Police disclosed that MV Shahajada-6 was impounded on Sunday evening.
Providing insights into the calamity, he stated, “MV Safiya, laden with 175 tons of rice packed in 6,000 gunny sacks for distribution among the underprivileged for Eid, departed from Khulna’s government food warehouse bound for Mongla food warehouse. However, it sank after a collision with MV Shahajada-6 from behind. Thankfully, the crew of five aboard managed to swim to safety.”
Efforts to salvage the rice from the submerged bulkhead ship are slated to commence on Monday morning.
