Cargo vessel carrying 1,600 tonnes of wheat from India sinks in Bangladesh river: officials

A light cargo vessel carrying 1,600 tonnes of wheat worth 66.4 million Taka from India sank completely in the Meghna river at the estuary of Bay of Bengal overnight, a day after officials said the freighter was badly damaged as it hit a shoal.

The vessel was heading towards Narayanganj river port on the outskirts of Dhaka to be delivered to a private flour mill after receiving the cargo from a bigger ship at the outer anchorage of Chattogram Port on Tuesday.

The accident came as importers, particularly those in Asia, were banking on wheat from India, the worlds second-biggest producer since exports from the Black Sea region plunged following Russias February 24 invasion of Ukraine.

Authorities said there was no scope to recover the wheat.

The light vessel has completely gone under water with 1,600 tonnes of wheat . . . there is no scope to recover the wheat, Bangladeshs Water Transport Cell joint secretary Ataul Kabir told

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