A tragic fire broke out early Saturday morning on a passenger vessel destined for St. Martin’s Island, resulting in the death of a crew member. The incident occurred while the ship, the Atlantic Cruise, was anchored on the Bakkhali River near the Nunia Chhara BIWTA jetty in Cox’s Bazar.
The deceased has been identified as Nur Kamal (25), a staff member of the vessel and a resident of Teknaf. The fire started at approximately 6:30 AM on Saturday.
Kamal was reportedly asleep on board when the flames erupted. Despite the efforts of the Cox’s Bazar Fire Service, he was unable to escape in time. Syed Muhammad Morshed Hossain, Deputy Assistant Director of the Cox’s Bazar Fire Service, confirmed that the vessel was stationary at the jetty during the outbreak.
The authorities are currently investigating the cause of the fire. While the ship was intended for the popular St. Martin's tourist route, it is unclear if any other damage to the vessel will impact upcoming travel schedules.
