'Cargo vessel carrying 1,600 tonnes of wheat from India sinks in Meghna river'

A light cargo vessel carrying 1600 tonnes of wheat worth 664 million Taka from India sank completely in the Meghna river at the estuary of Bay of Bengal overnight a day after officials said the freighter was badly damaged as it hit a shoalThe vessel was heading towards Narayanganj river port on the outskirts of Dhaka to be delivered to a private flour mill after receiving the cargo from a bigger ship at the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port on TuesdayThe accident came as importers particularly those in Asia were banking on wheat from India the worlds secondbiggest producer since exports from the Black Sea region plunged following Russias February 24 invasion of UkraineAuthorities said there was no scope to recover the wheatThe light vessel has completely gone under water with 1600 tonnes of wheat there is no scope to recover the wheat Bangladeshs Water Transport Cell joint secretary Ataul Kabir told PTIEarlier officials from the department said the ship did not sink completely and it was beached in a canal in the Tillar Char area in coastal Laxmipur districtThe shipping agent of the vessel said a crack developed in the front hatch of the vessel after being hit by a shoal and huge water entered into it Later water entered the middle of the vessel and sank with the cargoOfficials and importer of the cargo said the wheat was worth around Taka 664 million USD 75828070Asked if it could be an act of sabotage Kabir ruled out such possibility as mere speculation saying it appeared a case of simple accident as the sea was rough when the ship hit an underwater shoalTalking to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha food minister Sadhan Chandra Majumdar said a private Bangladeshi company was importing the wheat from India but he asked authorities concerned to find if it was really a case of accidentThe sea was rough and apparently it was a simple accident but we have asked the authorities concerned and submit a report if anything was abnormal he saidThe ban on wheat exports by India to control domestic prices has sparked fears of a shortage and price hike in countries that depend on Indian wheatMajumdar however said the Indian ban was not applicable to Bangladesh which mostly depends on Indian wheat and added that the countrys staple Aus rice had just been harvested and the major Aman would be reaped in a short timeThere is no reason to worry so much he saidCommerce Minister Tipu Munshi earlier also brushed aside rumours that Indias ban on wheat exports would impact Bangladesh and added that the current stock of wheat is also enough to meet demand in the local marketThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever