Two Sailors Die in Chittagong Trawler Fire

Two sailors died and another remains in critical condition following an explosion and fire aboard a fishing trawler in the Karnaphuli River at Sadarghat on Tuesday.

The fire broke out around 1:45 p.m. aboard the trawler ‘FV Desh’ following a sudden, loud explosion in its engine room.

The deceased, identified as engine room greasers Md. Rubel, 32, and Shah Alam, 40, succumbed to their injuries on Tuesday night while being transported to the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute in Dhaka. Ship Captain Zubair Mahmud confirmed their passing.

Following funeral prayers, Rubel was buried in his hometown of Galachipa, Patuakhali, and Shah Alam in Noakhali on Wednesday morning.

A third crew member from the FV Desh, Engineer Ashikuzzaman Tamim, is currently receiving treatment at the Dhaka burn institute. Doctors state his condition remains critical.

Three other sailors—Nizam Uddin, Md. Russell, and Siddique Ahmed from a nearby anchored trawler, 'FV Disney'—were also injured during the incident. Dr. Mohammad S. Khaled, head of the Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH), confirmed the three men were treated for their injuries and discharged on Wednesday morning.