The Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) has formed two separate investigation committees to probe the explosion on the vessel Banglar Jyoti at the Chattogram port this morning.
BSC Managing Director Commodore Mahmudul Malek told a press conference at the BSC office this afternoon that three crew members on board died in the incident.
He also said the BSC formed a seven-member committee, led by the corporation’s Executive Director (Technology), Engineer Mohammad Yusuf, to determine the cause of the explosion and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Additionally, a five-member committee, headed by a deputy general manager-level officer, has been formed to address related issues, including burial arrangements and compensation for the deceased.
Similarly, the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has also initiated its own investigation by forming a seven-member committee to examine the cause of the explosion.
The explosion occurred on board the Banglar Jyoti this morning (30 September) at the Dolphin Jetty of the Eastern Refinery.
Firefighting efforts involved eight units of the Fire Service, along with teams from the Navy, Coast Guard, and Port Authority. The fire was brought under control by 1pm.
Currently, the BSC operates seven vessels, five of which are oceangoing, while two are lighter ships used for transporting crude oil from the outer anchorage of the port to the Western Refinery.
Both lighter ships were built in Denmark in 1987, making them 37 years old.
BSC MD Malek said, “We are repairing them as they contribute to the national economy. Every day, workers from our workshop are sent to maintain these old ships, which require more effort compared to our newer seagoing vessels.”
Commodore Malek explained that the explosion, likely caused by gas formation, was followed by a fire. It is suspected that crew members were adjusting ropes on the ship when the blast occurred.
All three victims — Deck Cadet Saurabh Kumar Saha from Jhenaidah, BSC Foreman Nurul Islam from Chattogram, and worker Md. Harun from Kishoreganj — were in the vicinity at the time. The exact cause of the fire will be confirmed after the investigation committee submits its report.
The Banglar Joyti, with a capacity of 15,000 metric tons, was carrying 11,700 metric tonnes of crude oil at the time of the explosion. Commodore Malek reassured the public that while some oil was released during the incident, there was no environmental damage, and not a single drop of oil leaked into the sea.
In addition to BSC’s investigation, the BPC has formed another committee, led by Eastern Refinery Limited (ERL)’s Deputy General Manager of Planning and Shipping. The committee includes officials from BSC, Padma Oil Company, Meghna Oil Company, and Jamuna Oil Company. This committee is expected to submit a preliminary report within a day.
This explosion marks the second major incident involving BSC vessels in recent years. In March 2022, the BSC-owned ocean-going vessel Banglar Samriddhi was damaged by a rocket attack at Ukraine’s Olivia seaport, resulting in the death of Third Engineer Hadisur Rahman. That incident reduced BSC’s fleet from eight to seven ships.
