Bagerhat: Although three days have elapsed since the capsize of a cargo vessel carrying 510 tonnes of coal in the Pashur River of the Sundarbans under Mongla upazila, the authorities are yet to launch any salvage operation.

Meanwhile, siltation has already started covering parts of the sunken vessel due to strong tides in the river.

On 30 October, officials of the Forest Department collected samples of the coal from the capsized ship and the three-member probe body of the department also submitted its report to the DFO.

Assistant Conservator of Forest (Chandpai Range) M Belayet Hossain, who is the head of the probe body, said it was found during the investigation that coal-laden ‘MV Zia Raj’ collided with another cargo before being stuck to a char. The collision also broke the front side of the cargo, leading to its gradual capsize.

Though the crew tried to prevent the water seepage into the cargo, they failed and the cargo sank due to ineptness and negligence of the vessel’s master, he said.

The probe body has also recommended banning the movement of commercial ships through the Sundarbans, Belayet Hossain added.

Expressing his concern over the spread and dissolution of the coal in the water, Associate Professor of the Botany Department of Bagerhat Govt PC College Shah Alam Farazi, said the dissolved coal can pollute the river water by creating carbon dioxide and carbonic acid.

This will also lead to the shortage of dissolved oxygen in the water and the wildlife of the mangrove forest, including dolphin, crocodile, shark, various fishes and other aquatic flora and fauna, will die, he cautioned.

Cargo vessel ‘MV Zia Raj’ capsized in the Pashur river near the Sundarbans in the district’s Mongla upazila on Wednesday night (28 October).

Sub-inspector Md Nazrul Islam of Chandpai Navy Police Camp said the Khulna-bound cargo carrying 510 tonnes of coal from Mongla port sank in the river near Beauty Market as the keel of the ship was damaged at about 9:00pm.

Locals rescued 10 crew of the vessel from the river.