The CPA probe body found the oil tanker of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) as carrying some 990.3 tonnes of crude oil and blamed a faulty valve in the supply line for the oil leakage that caused severe bay-pollution on August 27.

It further suspected that the crude oil might have been collected illegally as it was found in ballast tanks instead of cargo tanks only where crude oil is usually to be stored, sources said.

The head of the two-member body, Captain Faridul Alam, also assistant harbour master of CPA, unofficially informed Shipping Secretary Ismail Jabiullah of the findings. CPA Chairman AMM Shahadat Hossain, BSC MD Captain Azizul Haq and other high officials were also present.

The probe body, expected to submit the 14-page probe report yesterday, made six recommendations to stop oil spillage in future.

The recommendations include adopting precautionary measures while carrying oil in tankers and replacing the hydraulic valves, sources said.

Oil spillage from Banglar Sourav spread over some 15km in the bay and the port channel of the Karnaphuli river causing severe pollution and a large-scale fish mortality.

Scores of dead fish kept floating in the sea following the spillage that prompted formation of another two probe bodies by the Marine Fisheries Department and the Bangladesh Forest Research Institute in Cox's Bazar.