Photo: Collected
Heavy rainfall over the past two days has severely impacted Mongla Port and its surrounding areas. Due to intense convective cloud systems over the Bay of Bengal, the discharge of fertilizer from two foreign ships at the port has been halted, causing disruptions in cargo operations.
Mongla, Aug 26 (V7N) - Due to the development of intense convective cloud systems over the Bay of Bengal, continuous heavy rainfall over the past two days has disrupted daily life along the Mongla coast, near the Sundarbans. Mongla Port has issued a local warning signal number three. Consequently, the discharge of goods from two out of eight cargo ships currently docked at the port has been completely suspended.
The suspended discharge involves two foreign vessels carrying fertilizer imported from Canada. The Harbor Department of Mongla Port Authority confirmed this information at 12:30 PM on Monday, August 26.
The Panama-flagged MV Federal Ibuku, anchored at Buoy No. 6, and the Liberia-flagged MV Sentinel, anchored at Buoy No. 11, are the two affected ships. According to Md. Mizanur Rahman, manager of Park Shipping, the Federal Ibuku brought in 29,500 tons of fertilizer from Canada on July 29, with 6,500 tons already discharged. Additionally, the Sentinel brought in 26,000 tons of fertilizer from Canada on August 25, but no discharge has begun for this shipment.
Due to the persistent rain over the last two days, discharge from both ships has been paused. Discharge operations will resume once the rain eases.
Additionally, the discharge of goods from six other ships, including clinker, gypsum, and machinery, at the port is also experiencing delays.
The ongoing heavy rainfall has led to waterlogging in various parts of Mongla municipal town, intensifying the hardships for residents. Several shrimp farms in the region have been inundated. Water accumulation on roads has further exacerbated the difficulties faced by the local population.
Senior Fisheries Officer of Mongla Upazila, Anjan Biswas, reported that continuous rainfall has caused flooding in at least over a thousand shrimp farms in the low-lying areas of Mongla.
END/AHS/SMA/
Comment: