Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) rules out any danger of environmental pollution due to the sinking of an oil tanker in Bhola recently. Meanwhile, two committees have been formed to investigate the incident.
BPC Chairman ABM Azad on Tuesday said this at a press conference in the capital on the sinking of an oil tanker in Bhola district early Sunday.
A lighter vessel with 11 lakh litres of fuel sank after being knocked by another vessel in the Meghna river due to dense fog in sadar upazila of Bhola. The accident took place because of poor visibility caused by e dense fog.
Meanwhile, two committees have been formed to probe the incident.
All the fuel spilled into the river. Local people later collected the fuel in containers. All the 13 crew members of the vessel have been rescued by another vessel plying through the area.
BPC Chairman said that there were approximately 10 chambers in the tanker. One of the chambers was probably damaged and some of the oil spilled into the Meghna. Its volume is not more than approximately one to one and a half thousand liters. Meanwhile, some oil has been retrieved with the help of the local people.
The chairman said that people from the Department of Environment have already reached there to see if the oil is floating over the water and causing environmental pollution. Water is being tested..
According to BPC, a four-member committee was formed to investigate the cause of the accident, determine the liability of the accident, and assess the amount of retrieved fuel oil and damage on behalf of the Padma Oil Company. The members of the committee are staying at the accident site to continue their activities.
Meanwhile, BPC has also formed another probe committee with three members. They are also in the area.
