United News of Bangladesh

For the first time since independence, a cargo vessel from Pakistan carrying rice is set to reach Monga seaport this week. The Pakistan fagged-carrier vessel-loaded with 25 metric tonnes (MT) of rice left Karachi Qasim port a few days back and is expected to anchor at Chittagong port within two or three days. Two ships carrying rice from India and Myanmar reach Ctg port After unloading 60 percent of rice there, the vessel with the remaining quantity of rice will move towards Mongla, said sources. A Government to Government (G2G) deal between Bangladesh and Pakistan was inked at the beginning of the last month to import 50 MT of Basmati rice through Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP). As per the deal, first consignment of the rice is on its way to Bangladesh and the second consignment is expected to come at the end of the current month. Ships carrying rice from Myanmar and India reach Ctg, Mongla port Indrajit Sarker, deputy controller at Khulna office of controller of movement and preservation, said 40 percent of the 25 MT of rice will be unloaded at the Mongla port. Khulna District Assistant Food Controller (additional charge) Tayebur Rahman said there are 47,000 MT of rice in the central food warehouse of Boyra and Maheshwarpasha. The capacity of the two warehouses is one lakh metric tonnes, he said.

At least six bodies, including of a three-year-old child, were recovered after launch carrying around 50-60 passengers went down in the Shitalakkhya River after being hit by a cargo vessel near Al Aminnagar in Narayanganj Sunday afternoon. One of the deceased was identified as Joynal, aged about 50, while the bodies of a 10-year-old girl, an 18-year-old girl, a 45-year-old woman and a 27-year-old woman remained unidentified, said Narayanganj Fire Service Deputy Assistant Director Abdullah Al Arefin. The fire service official said they recovered five bodies and the locals recovered Joynal’s body. The bodies will be handed over to the relatives through the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO). Around 20 passengers were still missing, he said. Besides, 15-20 passengers managed to swim ashore, he added. The naval police seized MV Ruposhi-9, a cargo ship owned by City Group. The cargo anchored at ‘Hossain The Dockyard’ in Munshiganj shortly after the accident, said Moniruzzaman Monir, officer-in-charge (OC) of Narayanganj Naval Police Station. Read: How rules flouting and negligence cause frequent launch disasters in Bangladesh