DHAKA: In the latest move after oil-tanker 'OT Southern Star 7' capsize, the government banned the movement of all kinds of water vessels in Shela River along Sundarbans.

Ministry of Shipping issued a press release on the matter on Tuesday night, which says the ban will remain effective until further notice.

Prior to the issuing the release, an inter-ministerial meeting was held in the city’s Secretariat with Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan in the chair.

The release said making the ministry’s additional secretary Rafiqul Islam coordinator, all necessary measures have been taken to prevent oil spill from the sunken tanker.

The coordinator will responsible for supervising all preparation to take the measures.

Meanwhile, ‘MT Total’ which hit the sunken tanker, was seized from Bhola on Wednesday and its survey and registration certificates were canceled.

Energy and Mineral Resources Division secretary, Environment and Forest Ministry representatives and Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation chairman M Eunusur Rahman, among others, attended the meeting.

Anchored 'OT Southern Star 7', carrying 350,000 litres of furnace oil, sank in Shyla River in Chandpai range of Sundarbans after ‘MT Total’ hit the tanker Tuesday.
The tanker’s master Mokhlesur Rahman, 50, went missing since the capsize.

According to Department of Forest the amount of loss may extend to TK 100 crore.

BDST: 1028 HRS, DEC 11, 2014