The New Nation - Internet Edition

Chittagong Correspondent

The sinking of the vessel at the outer anchorage of the Chittagong port with 3.6 tonnes of rice worth about Tk 11 crore on August 20 has raised questions in different quarters as the incident took place at a time when the government has been frantically endeavouring to replenish the country's depleting food stocks through import and other means.

According to reports, the Sri-Lankan vessel carrying the rice from India sank after collision with an oil tanker in broad day light when the weather was fine. Many are in doubt whether there was any design or sabotage behind the sinking the rice carrying vessel to put Bangladesh in a tight corner on the food front. People by and large are of the view that the sinking of the rice laden ship is sure to add to the woes of the country which is desperately trying to build buffer stock of foodgrains to meet any future contingency. The loss of rice in the bay, by design or accident, is likely to have adverse impact on the rice markets in the country. The loss or damage of foodgrains under whatever circumstances at this critical period will push up their prices in the home markets adding to sufferings of the common people of the country, some rice traders said. The general people are particularly worried over the rising prices of essential including rice just on the eve of holy month of Ramzan.

Talking to the New Nation, some rice merchants of Karwan Bazaar said the capsize of the vessel at the outer anchorage of the Chittagong sea port might be a deliberate act to make the rice markets unstable and destabilize the whole situation in the country.

They called for a thorough investigation into the incident to unveil the mystery behind the incident. Otherwise, such mishap will continue to take place under any pretext to derail the country's economic progress and plunge it into further economic turmoil, they obserbed.

Meanwhile, the two-member probe body on the sinking of the vessel is expected to submit its report on August 28.