Eight passengers rescued after speedboat stalls in rough sea near Sitakunda following violation of transit ban
Photo Collected
A speed-boat carrying eight passengers drifted for four hours in rough seas on Saturday after running out of fuel shortly after departing from Guptachhara Ghat for Chittagong. The vessel was swept into the coastal mangrove forests of Sitakunda, averting a potential tragedy despite the passengers’ decision to ignore weather warnings and a ban on speed-boat operations.
The incident began immediately after the vessel left the Sandwip terminal, when the engine stalled due to a total depletion of fuel. Left at the mercy of turbulent waters, the boat remained adrift until it eventually ran aground in the mangroves.
The Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) has confirmed that the vessel owners and the operator violated official directives by conducting the trip despite an active prohibition on maritime travel and adverse weather conditions. Authorities have announced that strict legal action will be taken against those responsible for the breach of safety regulations.
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