A FIRE BROKE OUT ON AN EMPTY OIL TANKER SATURDAY OFF THE SOUTHERN COAST OF BANGLADESH, A PORT OFFICIAL SAID. THERE WERE NO CASUALTIES AS ALL 32 CREW ON BOARD HAD JUMPED INTO THE SEA IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FIRE, SAID PORT CONTROL OFFICIAL CAPT. SHAHIN IQBAL. THE FIRE BROKE OUT AS THE MV BANGLAR SOURAV APPROACHED THE PORT IN CHITTAGONG, SOUTHERN BANGLADESH. THE AREA IS 216 KILOMETERS (135 MILES) SOUTH OF THE CAPITAL, DHAKA. A RESCUE OPERATION HAD BEEN LAUNCHED, HE WAS QUOTED AS SAYING BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.
