A tripartite meeting of the local administration, officials of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and Navy personnel will take place at the deputy commissioner's office at Chandpur tomorrow to review the overall situation.

Abul Hossain Chowdhury, chairman of BIWTA, said the decision on salvage operation would be taken at the meeting.

The salvage of MV Nasrin-1, 168 feet below the surface, is not possible due to strong currents and is likely to be abandoned, said the district and BIWTA officials.

They said divers could not go any further below 60 feet into the water. Strong currents are also forcing the sunken ship to drift away from the salvage spot.

"We are waiting for an order to abandon the operation," said an official requesting anonymity.

The deputy commissioner on Tuesday night said Nasrin-1 would meet the fate of DINAR-2 that could not be rescued after the vessel capsized with about 400 passengers on board at the same place in August 1994.

Lalmohan-bound MV Nasrin-1 from Dhaka carrying 750 passengers capsized in whirlpools near Chandpur launch terminal on the night of July 8. Some 230 passengers could swim ashore or were rescued.