7 found dead on cargo ship in Chandpur

Staff Reporter :

The bodies of seven people were recovered by the river police and Bangladesh Coast Guard from a cargo vessel anchored in the Alur Bazar area of the Meghna River in Chandpur on Monday afternoon. Authorities suspect the deaths resulted from a case of piracy.

Two other individuals were rescued from the ship in critical condition and rushed to the hospital.

River Police Superintendent Syed Mushfiqur Rahman confirmed the incident to the media on Monday evening, stating that the victims, believed to be crew members of the vessel, had injuries from sharp weapons. Some had their throats slit.

“They were brutally beaten to death with indigenous weapons. We suspect the incident may have been caused by enmity,” Rahman said.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Commander Takiul of the Bangladesh Coast Guard said they believe the vessel was attacked by an organized gang of pirates while it was en route to Sirajganj’s Baghabari.

He reported that the victims
were found in their respective cabins, lying under shawls or blankets. “From the outside, it appeared they were asleep. However, closer inspection revealed severe head injuries,” he said.

The cargo ship departed from the Kafco Fertilizer Factory wharf in Chittagong at 8:00 AM on Sunday (December 22). When it failed to reach Dhaka on time, the owner contacted emergency services via 999 after determining the vessel’s location.

Officials, including Coast Guard Chandpur Station Commander Lieutenant Fazlul Haque, Superintendent Rahman, Additional Police Superintendent Md Abdullah Al Mamun, and Assistant Police Superintendent Md Imtiaz, arrived at the scene and recovered the bodies.

The two survivors in critical condition were also rescued. The identities of the victims and survivors remain unknown.

Chandpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mohsin Uddin, along with river police and coast guard officials, is at the site to investigate further.

This tragic event has left the local community in shock as officials work to uncover the details surrounding the attack and the deaths.