2 dock workers die as crane tears down in port

BAGERHAT, June 11 (Agencies): Two dock workers were killed as a crane tore down on them in Pashur channel in Mongla upazila on Wednesday morning.
The victims have been identified as foreman Matin, 52, and clerk Jakir Hossain, 36.
Mongla port authority chairman Commodore HR Bhuiyan said that Jakir and Matin sustained injures as the iron rope of the crane along with goods suddenly tore down on them while they were unloading machineries from a Hong Kong flag carrying ship, MV Hanjin, at Harbaria in the channel about 9:00am.
A four-member probe committee was formed to investigate the incident, said HR Bhuiyan.
The ship berthed at Harbaria, 14 kilometres away from Mongla port, in the Pashur river for releasing goods on June 8, added HR Bhuiyan.
Offloading of consignments was stopped after the accident.
HM Dulal, owner of Nuru & Sons, assigned for offloading the shipment, said 12-13 workers started work in the morning.
A cable of the ship's crane broke and the containers carrying the shipment of machine tools came down on two workers, leaving Matin dead on the spot. Jakir died on way to Mongla Health Complex, he said.
The chairman alleged the company assigned for offloading goods did not inform the authorities of such a big accident until 11am.
Nuru & Sons owner Dulal said, "It is routine to inform the authorities of an accident.
But we thought it was urgent to let the police know before for prompt measures.
"That's why we have called up the Mongla police and sought their cooperation," he said.