Ship carrying fly ash sinks near Sundarbans

A cargo ship carrying 1,422 tonnes of fly ash, the raw material used for cement production, sank in the Sibsa river near the Sundarbans this afternoon.

All 12 crew members on board managed to swim ashore safely, reports our Khulna correspondent.

The "MV Garohera" lifted anchor from Haldia port in India and was heading to Mongla via Antihara waterway in the Sundarbans, said Mainul Hossain Mintu, vice president (Mongla unit) of Bangladesh Lighterage Workers Union.

"When the vessel reached the Nalian area on the Sibsa river around 2:00pm, it hit a submerged sandbar, causing a breach in its hull. The vessel then tilted to one side and sank to the bottom of the river."

He added that there is a concern over possible disruptions to the Bangladesh-India Inland Maritime Protocol route.

Sub-Inspector Tarok Biswas, in charge of Nalian River Police, said, "We have informed the authorities so that the owner recovers the vessel."

Fly ash is a highly toxic substance known for causing health and environmental problems as it can contain lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, and uranium.

Mahfuzur Rahman Mukul, Khulna divisional coordinator of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela), said there could be catastrophic environmental impacts if the vessel and its cargo are not promptly salvaged.

"Fly ash will not only contaminate the river and poison aquatic creatures but may also leach into landmasses, leading to toxicity of agricultural land and drinking water."

"Moreover, since the site of the capsize is very close to the Sundarbans, the biodiversity of the largest mangrove forest is also at peril."