Salt-laden trawler sinks in Meghna]

BHOLA, Jan 2: A trawler carrying 300 tons of salt sank in the Meghna River near Bhola Sadar Upazila early Friday after being hit by a ship. 

All seven men on board managed to swim ashore and survived. Large quantities of salt spilled into the river following the accident.

The incident occurred around 4:30 am near Ilishbari in Tulatuli area.

Md. Belal Hossain, master of the ill-fated vessel MV Diloa-3, said they had set out from Kutubdia in Cox's Bazar on Thursday morning with a consignment of salt bound for Khulna's Jailkhana Ghat. Due to heavy fog at night, the trawler was anchored in the Tulatuli stretch of the river. Suddenly, a lighter vessel coming from behind rammed into the trawler, rupturing its hull and causing water to rush in.

Efforts were made to steer the vessel towards the bank, but it sank just short of shore. The seven crew members swam to safety.

On receiving information, members of the Coast Guard's southern zone and river police reached the spot by noon and launched an operation to salvage the trawler.

Syed Ashiqur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of Ilisha River Police Station, said rescue efforts are underway. He added that dense fog prevented immediate identification of the ship that struck the trawler. No formal complaint has yet been lodged, but legal action will be taken if one is filed.