United News of Bangladesh

US military forces intercepted and boarded another oil tanker in the Caribbean on Friday, marking the fifth such seizure under the Trump administration’s campaign to target sanctioned vessels operating to and from Venezuela as Washington seeks greater control over the country’s oil sector. According to U.S. Southern Command, Marines and Navy personnel carried out the early-morning operation from the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, part of a sizable U.S. military presence that has expanded in the Caribbean in recent months. The tanker, identified as the Olina, was secured and later handed over to the U.S. Coast Guard. Southern Command declared during the announcement that “criminals will find no refuge.” Unclassified videos released by Southern Command and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem showed a U.S. helicopter landing on the ship, service members searching the deck, and what appeared to be an explosive charge placed near a doorway to access the vessel’s interior. Noem described the Olina as part of a so-called “ghost fleet” suspected of transporting oil in violation of U.S. sanctions. She said the tanker had departed Venezuela while attempting to avoid detection by American forces. The seizure represents the fifth tanker taken under President Donald Trump’s push to oversee Venezuela’s oil production, refining, and worldwide distribution following the U.S.-led removal of President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise nighttime operation. Trump later said on social media that the action was carried out “in coordination with the Interim Authorities of Venezuela,” though he did not provide further details. The White House declined to immediately comment. Venezuela’s government confirmed it was cooperating with U.S. officials to return the tanker, stating that the vessel had departed Venezuelan waters without proper authorization or payment. Officials said the ship was now being escorted back to Venezuelan waters for protection and further legal steps, calling the operation a successful joint effort. Shipping analyst Samir Madani, co-founder of TankerTrackers.com, said satellite data and photographs indicate that at least 16 tankers recently left Venezuela in violation of a U.S.-enforced maritime quarantine aimed at stopping sanctioned trade. The Olina was among those vessels. U.S. records show the tanker had previously been sanctioned for transporting Russian oil under its former name, Minerva M, and was once registered in Panama. Although the Olina now claims registration under Timor-Leste, international shipping databases list its flag as invalid. The ship’s ownership and management were transferred in July to a Hong Kong–based company. Tracking data shows the Olina last broadcast its location in November while in the Caribbean north of Venezuela. Since then, the vessel had disabled its tracking signal, a practice commonly referred to as “going dark.” While U.S. officials have portrayed the seizure as routine law enforcement, other members of the Trump administration have openly framed the effort as a revenue-generating strategy intended to revive Venezuela’s struggling oil industry and economy. In a social media post Friday morning, Trump said the U.S. and Venezuela were cooperating closely to rebuild and modernize the country’s oil and gas infrastructure. The administration estimates it could sell between 30 million and 50 million barrels of sanctioned Venezuelan oil, with proceeds benefiting both countries, and expects the arrangement to continue long term. Trump also met Friday with oil industry executives to discuss plans to invest $100 billion in restoring and upgrading Venezuela’s oil production and distribution networks. Vice President JD Vance said this week that Washington can effectively control Venezuela’s finances by determining where its oil is allowed to be sold. Madani estimated that the Olina was carrying roughly 707,000 barrels of crude, worth more than $42 million at current market prices of around $60 per barrel.

The administration of President Donald Trump on Wednesday moved to strengthen U.S. control over Venezuela’s oil sector by seizing additional sanctioned tankers and announcing plans to loosen certain sanctions so Washington can manage the sale of Venezuelan oil worldwide. Following the removal of President Nicolás Maduro in a surprise overnight operation, the Trump administration said it intends to oversee all Venezuelan oil exports. While the U.S. continues to enforce its oil embargo, the Energy Department said that any oil entering or leaving Venezuela must pass through channels approved by the United States and aligned with its legal and national security priorities. Such authority over the world’s largest proven crude reserves could give Washington significant leverage over global oil supplies and prices. The moves underscore the administration’s resolve to shape Venezuela’s future through control of its oil wealth, echoing Trump’s statement that the U.S. would effectively “run” the country. Vice President JD Vance said the U.S. could pressure Venezuela by determining where and how its oil is sold. By controlling energy resources, he said, Washington can allow sales only when they serve American interests, applying strong pressure without military force. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that oil seized from sanctioned tankers in the Atlantic and Caribbean would be included in a new agreement announced Tuesday, under which Venezuela would supply up to 50 million barrels of oil to the United States. Rubio said Venezuela’s interim authorities recognize that cooperation with Washington is the only way to export oil and avoid economic collapse. Additional tanker seizures U.S. European Command reported that the tanker Bella 1 was seized in the North Atlantic for violating U.S. sanctions after attempting to evade enforcement efforts. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said U.S. forces also took control of the M Sophia in the Caribbean, noting that both vessels had recently docked in Venezuela or were headed there. These ships join at least two others seized last month. The Bella 1 had abruptly changed course in December after an earlier tanker seizure, later renaming itself Marinera and reflagging to Russia. U.S. officials said the crew even painted a Russian flag on the ship’s hull. Russia’s Foreign Ministry protested the seizure, saying Russian nationals were among the crew and demanding their rights be respected. A senior Russian lawmaker denounced the action as piracy. Meanwhile, the U.S. Justice Department said it is investigating crew members for failing to comply with Coast Guard orders and warned that similar enforcement actions may follow against other vessels. The tanker had previously been sanctioned over allegations it smuggled oil for a company linked to Hezbollah. Sanctions eased to allow oil sales At the same time, the administration said it would selectively lift sanctions to permit Venezuelan oil shipments to global markets. Initial sales of 30 to 50 million barrels are expected to begin immediately and continue indefinitely. Proceeds will be held in U.S.-controlled bank accounts and distributed at the discretion of the U.S. government. Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA confirmed it is negotiating with Washington, describing the arrangement as a commercial transaction similar to existing deals with foreign firms. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez downplayed the development, calling it a normal step in Venezuela’s international economic relations. The U.S. also plans to authorize imports of oilfield equipment and services to boost Venezuela’s production, currently about 1 million barrels per day, and has signaled possible investment in the country’s power grid to support economic recovery. Shadow fleet concerns U.S. officials said the seized ships were part of a “shadow fleet” used to smuggle oil for sanctioned countries such as Venezuela, Russia, and Iran. The U.K. military assisted in tracking the Marinera, with British officials describing it as part of a sanctions-evasion network fueling conflict and instability. The M Sophia, which had stopped transmitting location data months earlier, was carrying an estimated 1.8 million barrels of crude worth about $108 million. Maritime analysts said at least 16 tankers departed Venezuela’s coast in recent days amid the unfolding U.S. operation.  

Law enforcers have launched a hunt for the pirates who seized an oil tanker and looted 350 metric tonnes of furnace oil, authorities said on Sunday, three days after the incident. The tanker was carrying over 360 metric tonnes of furnace oil when it was attacked on Friday in Dhaleshwari-Shitalakkhya confluence near Char Mukterpur in Munshiganj. No arrest has been made until today and law enforcers are yet to recover the looted oil. The oil tanker, heading towards Gazipur from Narayanganj, was seized in the confluence around 6am on Friday. The armed pirates ambushed the running ship ‘OT Bin Zaman-1’ near the spot (confluence) while it was taking a turn. The six crew members, including the captain, were overpowered at gunpoint and their mobile phones and other valuables seized. The pirates blindfolded the crew with black cloth, locked them in the engine room, and took control of the tanker. After looting 350 MT out of 360.036 MT of furnace oil, worth around Tk 3.5 crore, the hijackers abandoned the tanker, owned by King Fisher Shipping Company, near the Meghna Bridge around 8:30pm and fled the scene. Summit Group is the owner of the furnace oil. Read: French destroyer in EU mission rescues 29 mariners from oil tanker stricken in Red Sea attacks The vessel's captain Saizul Islam said they had set sail from Summit Power in Narayanganj’s Madanganj area at 6am on Friday to deliver it to Summit Power in Gazipur. He said that six masked pirates with arms boarded the vessel initially and called one by "Dalim" during the attack. Fazlul Ahmed, manager of the shipping company, said that they lost contact with the ship, prompting them to alert the law enforcement.

The salvage operation of oil tanker MV-Sagar Nandini-2, which sank with 11 lakh litres of oil after another vessel hit it in the River Meghna Sunday, will be launched Thursday morning. Although two barges were supposed to come from Chandpur to retrieve the vessel that had capsized, one of them, Johura, arrived Tuesday night and another one could not reach the site on time, Coast Guard (South Zone) Media Officer KM Shafiul Kinjal said. The full-fledged salvage operation will start tomorrow as the remaining barge arrived in the afternoon, he said. Members of Coast Guard continued to skim oil from the sunken vessel to stop it from spilling into the river so that the biodiversity of the river is not affected, Shafiul said. "Also, they are working to ensure the security of Shagor Nandini-2." On Sunday, the vessel sank after being hit by another vessel in Meghna due to dense fog in Sadar upazila of Bhola. The oil on the ship spilled into the river. Later, local administration formed a nine-member probe body, headed by Additional District Magistrate Ripon Kumar Saha, to look into the incident. The committee was asked to submit its report within seven working days. Read more: Oil spill in Meghna river threatening environment, vessel still not recovered after 36 hours

An oil tanker associated with an Israeli billionaire has been struck by a bomb-carrying drone off the coast of Oman amid heightened tensions with Iran, an official told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The attack happened Tuesday night off the coast of Oman, the Mideast-based defense official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity as they did not have authorization to discuss the attack publicly. Read: Russian missiles cross into Poland during strike on Ukraine, killing 2 The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, a British military organization in the region monitoring shipping, told the AP: “We are aware of an incident and it’s being investigated at this time.” The official identified the vessel attacked as the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Pacific Zircon. That tanker is operated by Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping, which is a company ultimately owned by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer. A phone number for Eastern Pacific rang unanswered Wednesday.  

Naval police on Tuesday recovered the body of a man who fell off an oil tanker at Chattogram port four days ago off the coast of Bhatiari Union in Sitakunda. The deceased was identified as Enamul Hoque Prakash Imran, 30, of Cumilla district. Chan Mia, sub-inspector of Naval Police of Sitakunda Kumira, said local fishermen spotted the body floating in the tidal waters off the coast of Bhatiari Union and alerted the police around 12pm. READ: Missing man’s body found in Dharala River Imran had slipped off the oil tanker named ‘Akij Hossain’ at Chattogram Port in the small hours of Friday, and had remained missing, added Chan Mia. The body has been handed over to his family, the SI said.

A powerful explosion on an oil tanker on Sungandha river in Jhalokathi on Friday, left a crew member dead and seven others injured, local administration said. The tanker, Sagar Nandini-3, was anchored at the dock when the blast occurred in its pump room while emptying octane from it, witnesses on board the vessel said. The dead crew was identified as Kamrul Islam, while the seven others were undergoing treatment at Barishal’s Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital for burn injuries. Fire service members with the help of locals rescued the injured. The tanker started sinking as its bottom was ripped apart by the impact of the explosion sending water gushing into it, said survivors. Kobad Ali Sardar, assistant director of the Barisal Fire Service, said the fire was brought under control after an hour-long effort. READ: Explosion at Bashundhara LPG factory in Mongla; 6 suffer burns Efforts are being made to prevent the ship from sinking. Arrangements are being made to unload the oil as soon as possible, he said. Barishal Deputy Commissioner Johur Ali and Police Super Fatia Yasmin visited the site and ordered steps to stop an oil spill. READ: Five workers burnt in Narayanganj steel mill explosion

An oil tanker exploded near Sierra Leone’s capital, killing at least 92 people and severely injuring dozens of others after large crowds gathered to collect leaking fuel, officials and witnesses said Saturday. The explosion took place late Friday after a bus struck the tanker in Wellington, a suburb just to the east of Freetown. The mortuary at Connaught Hospital reported 92 bodies had been brought in by Saturday morning. About 30 severely burned victims were not expected to survive, according to staff member Foday Musa. Also read: Huge fire extinguished at oil facility in southern Lebanon Injured people whose clothes had burned off in the fire that followed the explosion lay naked on stretchers as nurses attended to them Saturday. Video obtained by The Associated Press of the explosion’s aftermath showed a giant fireball burning in the night sky as some survivors with severe burns cried out in pain. Charred remains of the victims lay strewn at the scene awaiting transport to mortuaries. President Julius Maada Bio, who was in Scotland attending the United Nations climate talks Saturday, deplored the “horrendous loss of life.” “My profound sympathies with families who have lost loved ones and those who have been maimed as a result,” he tweeted. Vice President Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh visited two hospitals overnight and said Sierra Leone’s National Disaster Management Agency and others would “work tirelessly” in the wake of the emergency. Also read: Oil giants deny spreading disinformation on climate change “We are all deeply saddened by this national tragedy, and it is indeed a difficult time for our country,” he said on his Facebook page.

At least two persons were charred to death and more than three others sustained burn injuries in a fire that broke out at an oil tanker on the Karnafuli river at Chattogram port on Thursday, officials said. The deceased have been identified as the oil tanker's crew members -- Nizam Uddin, 40 and Ruhul Amin, 45. The three injured crew members -- Abu Sufian, Sahabuddin and Monir -- have been admitted to Chittagong Medical College and Hospital.   According to local sources, the fire broke out at the engine room of inland oil tanker MT Iravati at the Super Petro Chemical Jetty of the port around 7am.   A number of firefighting units from the Bangladesh Fire Service and the Navy were soon pressed into service and it took them a good four hours to contain the blaze, officials said,   Newton Das, deputy assistant director of Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defence told UNB that an electrical short-circuit at the engine room of the vessel might have triggered the devastating fire.   Also read: Gas cylinder blast in Sylhet: Injured woman dies at DMCH   Shilbot Barua, an assistant sub-inspector of police posted at Chittagong Medical College and Hospital, said that the condition of two of the injured -- Monir and Shahabuddin -- is critical. Also read: 2 killed, 10 injured in Bhola gas cylinder blast   A probe has been ordered into the fire accident, officials said.

Iraqi explosives experts were working to defuse a large mine discovered on an oil tanker in the Persian Gulf and evacuate its crew, authorities said Friday.