CHATTOGRAM, Oct 5: Another oil tanker of state-owned Banglkadesh Shi-pping Corporation (BSC) 'Banglar Sauravh' caught fire on Friday midnight, killing one .
Another BSC oil Tanker 'Banglar Jyoti' caught fire killing three BSC staff earlier.
Commodore Mahmudul Malek, Managing Director of BSC termed the consecutive fire in two oil tankers as an act of sabotage.
At a press conference held at BSC Conference room on Saturday, he said that there was no work on the tanker at around 12.30 am. But flames were seen at four point of the tanker, he said.
"For this, we apprehend that this was an act of sabotage,' he said.
He said it urgently needs to identify the criminals involved in such activities.
He said that an eight-member committee headed by Technical Director of BSC will investigate the fire.
"BSC had chartered a 30,000-tonne capacity foreign oil tanker for lightering the petroleum products,' he said.
By operating SPM, the traditional system of transportation of crude oil by Oil tanker would be avoided. So opening of the operation of SPM is essential, he said.
MT Banglar Shourabh was anchored near Charlie Anchorage at Chattogram Port's outer anchorage when it caught fire at around 12:45am on Saturday, according to the coastguard.
Firefighters, citing locals, said the blaze broke out in the front section of the oil tanker.
A BSC official said the captain and other crew members left the ship after the fire and declared it abandoned.
In this incident one staff had died. The deceased was identified as Md Sadek,43.
According to the deceased's colleagues, Sadek died after jumping into the Karnaphuli River in an attempt to escape the fire.
Lieutenant Shakib Mehboob, a spokesperson of the Coast Guard's Eastern Zone, said the fire erupted in the front section of the oil tanker when it was anchored at the outer anchorage.
The coastguard deployed its tug ship BCGT Promotto, along with three metal shark boats, and four teams worked to control the fire.
The Coast Guard said they rescued 47 out of 48 crew members. The fire was brought under control at around 2:30am.
Officials said 11,600 tonnes of crude oil was being unloaded from a mother vessel to the tanker.
Fire broke out on BSC oil tanker Banglar Jyoti at 10.55 am on September 30, following an explosion at Dolphin Jetty while it was unloading, tree people died in that incident.
Out of the seven tankers of BSC, Banglar Shaurabh and Banglar Jyoti lighter t the outer anchorage, while the other five tankers transport goods internationally.
The two tankers were purchased from Denmark and have been in BSC's fleet since 1987.
