A devastating fire broke out on the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC)-owned vessel, "Banglar Shourabh", anchored at Patenga, Chattogram. One crew member, who had sustained severe burn injuries, succumbed to his wounds while undergoing treatment.
The fire erupted late on Saturday (5 October), at approximately 12:45am, off the coast of Patenga Beach.
Bangladesh Navy, Coast Guard, and Port Authority managed to bring the blaze under control after nearly four hours of concerted effort.
Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defence Mobilising Officer Kafil Uddin stated that the emergency services were alerted through a 999 call, confirming a fire aboard the oil tanker. Before the rescue team arrived, several panicked sailors jumped into the sea. A few were rescued by nearby fishing trawlers. Subsequently, the Navy and Coast Guard arrived and successfully rescued 48 crew members from the vessel. Unfortunately, one of the rescued sailors, identified as Sadek, passed away while receiving medical care.
Just a few days earlier, on Monday, three individuals perished in a fire following an explosion aboard another BSC-owned vessel, 'MT Banglar Jyoti'.
According to multiple sources from the Bangladesh Merchant Mariners Association, the typical lifespan of a ship ranges from 20 to 25 years, after which it can no longer operate on international routes. However, both the 'MT Banglar Jyoti' and the 'MT Banglar Saurav' tankers were constructed in Denmark in 1987. These vessels transport crude oil from large tankers waiting at the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port to various depots in Patenga.
