Damage may exceed Tk 5b

The damage done to the Sundarbans due to an oil-tanker crash in Shela River in Bagerhat’s Mongla Upazila may go up to Tk 5 billion, says a report of a panel formed by a political party to investigate the disaster. BNP formed the panel to investigate the capsize of oil-tanker ‘OT Southern Star 7’ in Shela River in Chandpai Range under Sundarbans east zone and spilling out huge oil which caused colossal damage to the world’s largest mangrove forest. The panel chief, while unveiling the findings of their weeklong probe into the tanker crash and the subsequent effects on the biodiversity of the Sundarbans due to the oil spill blamed the government’s reluctance and lack of coordination after the crash. The report, revealed on Friday afternoon, said the damage may exceed Tk 5b in financial term, according to a news agency.