All 14 crew members of capsized lighter vessel rescued

All fourteen crew members were rescued nearly 21 hours after a lighter vessel capsized in the Bay of Bengal yesterday.

The vessel--MV Akther Banu—capsized at Hatiya Channel near Bhashan Char due to heavy rolling in the sea while carrying 1,700 tonnes of wheat on its way to Narayanganj from Chattogram around 10:30am yesterday, reports our Chattogram correspondent.

Today, some fishermen saw the victims wearing lifejacket and buoy floating near Thengar char of Noakhali around 8:00am and rescued them, said Parvez Mohammad, a representative of the sunken vessel.

The rescued crew members were taken to Surjomukhi Bazar in Noakhali's Hatiya upazila, Parvez added.

Abul Khayer, officer-in-charge of Hatiya Police Station, said all rescued crew members are now doing well.

Yesterday, another lighter vessel owned by City Group carrying 2,000 tonnes of raw sugar capsized near Bhashan Char in the morning.

All 12 crew members of the vessel, MV City-14, were rescued by another vessel passing through the area.