Eight crew members went missing after a lighter vessel carrying cement and clinker sank in the outer anchorage area of the Chattogram port on Saturday morning.

According to Chattogram port sources, the lighter vessel -- Titu-14 -- sank in the Bay of Bengal following a collision with a dredger in the outer anchorage area of the port.

‘The Coast Guard managed to rescue five of the 13 crew members of the vessel that overturned and sank following the accident. Remaining eight crew members are still missing,’ the sources said.

Omar Faruq, secretary of the Chattogram Port Authority, said ‘rescue operations are on for the eight missing crew members’.

Coast Guard Contingent, Sangu Contingent, Kutubdia Contingent and Sadar Contingent are conducting a joint rescue operation, he added.

SK