DHAKA: The Ministry of Environment and Forest (MOEF) Thursday formed a nine-member probe committee to investigate into the capsize of the oil-tanker, carrying 357,664 liters of furnace oil, in a river along Sundarbans.

The committee, led by additional secretary M Nurul Karim of the ministry, has been asked to submit its report by December 18.

The other members of the committee are Professor Dr Dilip Kumar Dutta of Khulna University’s Environment Science Department, Environment Department director Dr Sultan Ahmed, Khulna region forest conservator, deputy secretary (trade) Dr M Rezauk Haque of Shipping Ministry, a BIWTA representative, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation director (Marketing) Mir Reza Ali, a representative of Bagerhat deputy commissioner and deputy secretary Sayed Mehedi Hasan of MOEF’s forest section. 

Senior information officer of MOEF ministry Mostafa Kamal Pasha said they will investigate about the harmful impact on Sundarbans’ ecology and biodiversity. 

They also asked to recommend the way to overcome the damage and disaster, he added.

Earlier on Tuesday, the oil-tanker, ‘OT Southern Star 7’, carrying 357,664 liters of furnace oil sank into Shyla River in Chandpai range of Sundarbans after it was hit by a cargo vessel around 5:00am.

BDST: 1730 HRS, DEC 11, 2014