Explosion on Oil Tanker at Chittagong Port Claims Three Lives

A deadly accident occurred following an explosion aboard the crude oil tanker Banglar Jyoti at Chittagong Port’s Eastern Refinery. The blast happened around 11:00 AM local time on September 30, at the vessel's forward section, known as the forecastle. The explosion sparked a fire, tragically resulting in the deaths of three crew members.

The Banglar Jyoti, flying under the Bangladesh flag, is owned by the Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC). At the time of the incident, the tanker was in the process of offloading crude oil. According to the Chittagong Port Authority, the oil was being imported for Eastern Refinery Limited.

Emergency responders, including the Chittagong Port Authority, Coast Guard, Bangladesh Navy fireboats, and other fire services, quickly arrived on the scene. By 12:30 PM, the fire had been brought under control. Nearby vessels were moved to safety, and oil installations were placed on high alert.

Three victims were discovered following the blaze: a deck cadet, a charge man, and an employee from the BSC Marine workshop.

BSC Managing Director Commodore Mahmudul Malek reported that the explosion took place while a deck cadet and two other staff members were performing routine maintenance at the vessel’s forecastle. He emphasized that the maintenance task carried no apparent fire risks that would have caused an explosion.

An investigative team has been formed to look into the cause of the explosion.