Joynal Abedin Khan :
Though over 36 hours have elapsed since the occurrence, fertilizer-laden cargo MV Javale Nur stuck at a char in the Mora Bhola River of East Sundarbans is yet to be rescued. As a result, fertilizer is spreading in the river water.
The cargo vessel carrying potash fertilizer capsized in the river at Sarankhola Range of the Sundarban East Zone on Tuesday afternoon.
The cargo vessel was stuck on a sandbar in Bhola River and partially sank in Sharankhola range of Sundarbans on Sunday.
Experts feared that an impact on biodiversity is likely to hit the Sundarbans, following the cargo vessel, carrying over 500 tones of fertilizers, sank in River Bhola.
Two separate committees have been formed to investigate the incident. Fearing damage to the environment, a general diary was filed with Sarankhola Police Station on Wednesday, reports our Bagerhat correspondent quoting unit’s head Sunil Kumar Kundu.
Forest department formed a probe body with East Division Officer Amir Hussain Chowdhury as the head, Kundu told the reporters. They will report within three working days.”
The local government formed another probe committee with an additional commissioner as the head which will report within three days, Jahangir Alam said.
Sundarbans forest reservation department has lodged a general diary with Sharankhola thana, said OC Rezaul Karim.
Khulna University Environment Science department’s Professor Dr Dillip Dutta urged serious attention to the matter.
“It is a chemical fertiliser which can have devastating consequences. Sundarbans is a sensitive region. The matter should be taken seriously and be tackled with full capacity,” he said.
Dr Dilip said, MoP is a poisonous chemical and it may damage aquatic animals, getting mixed with water.
Fertilizer will get mixed with water of the rivers and cannels in Sundarbans, creating damage to environment for fish living, opined Dr Abdullah Al Mamum of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology department at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST).
He said that this incident would have no impact immediately, but it will affect on biodiversity of Sundarbans in long term.
Fisheries resources, aerial roots, and aquatic animals will face more harm in short term, according to Abdullah.
Water resources expert Ainun Nishat said: “Now is not the time to think which route is legal and which is not. Sundarbans is in big trouble. Our first priority should be preventing the oil spill immediately.”
Though the fertilisers are seeping through to river waters and spreading every minute, Agricultural Extension Department official Joynul Abedin said it would not be harmful.
“This fertiliser is widely used in agriculture – farming and fish farming. Therefore, this fertiliser will not be harmful for the environment or the marine life,” he said.
Yunus Ali, the Chief Conservator of Forest, said a large number of vessels, more than 500 to be specific, including large barges and oil tankers navigate through the deep forest using several routes.
In the East Sundarbans, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Amir Hossain Chowdhury said, that the ship was trapped three days ago in the Bhola River.
Sources of Forest Department said that sunken MV Javale Nur (M-6943) of M/S Al Ehsan Shipping Lines was sailing to Baghabari of Sirajganj, carrying muriate of potash (MoP) from Harbaria of Mongla.
On its way, it fell trapped in a shoal in Bimal Char area in the River Bhola. Later owners sent two other cargos to unload MoP from the trapped one.
Earlier on December 9, an oil-tanker, carrying 350,000 litres oil, for a power plant sank in Shela River near Chandpai range of Sundarbans after being hit by another tanker.
