The narrow channel is the only waterway to Bhola.

MV Shagor King running on the Barisal-Bhola route sank after hitting a shoal at Veduria in the Ilisha river. None of the passengers died.

In the last six days, no serious salvage effort was made.

Khorshed Alam, vice president of the Barisal Launch Owners Association said Khawza Navigation Company of Bhola, owner of Shagor King, are trying to salvage the launch on their own efforts, which is unlikely to succeed.

When contacted, BIWTA Deputy Director Shahjol Huq said the launch owner did not seek any help from BIWTA to salvage the vessel.

"We can send salvage ship Hamza only after payment and completion of other formalities by the owner of the sunken vessel", he said.

Sources said the sunken vessel is also accelerating deposit of silt at the spot, which will affect navigability of the waterway and also make salvation of the vessel more difficult.