An assistant inspector of the Department of Explosives went missing yesterday after he fell into the Bay while boarding a scrap ship at the outer anchorage of Chittagong port.

The victim was identified as AHM Nuruzzaman, 38, of Barguna.

According to the

Chittagong Port Radio Control, a team of officials from Chittagong Customs and Department of Explosives went to inspect MT Mar Princess in the morning.

When the team members were boarding the ship from an oil tanker using a makeshift ladder, Nuruzzaman suddenly fell into the sea at about 10:40pm, staffs of the control room said.

Khorshed Ali, manager (operation) of the ship's local agent JAR World Shipping Lines, said they hired the oil tanker OT Baro Aulia to make the journey to MT Mar Princess for the officials.

Nuruzzaman might have lost balance while climbing the ladder, he said adding that the officials went for the pre-scrapping inspection.

Confirming the incident, Chittagong Port Authority (CPA) Deputy Conservator Captain Nazmul Alam said two tug boats—Kandary-7 and Dishari-2—rushed to the spot immediately after the incident and started searching for the missing person.

Separate teams of Bangladesh Navy and Coast Guard also joined the rescue operation that continued till filing this report last night.

The Panama-flagged vessel was anchored at the B-anchorage on Tuesday night, said Khorshed.