The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has called off the search for four crew members who went missing from a Bangladeshi bulk carrier vessel along the Mississippi River. Despite extensive search efforts, the men remain unaccounted for.

The search operation was initiated after the crew members failed to arrive at their vessel for muster at 11 p.m. on Monday near Belle Chasse, Louisiana. The USCG deployed a helicopter and a small boat for the search, along with the involvement of multiple local and state agencies.

Over the course of 12 hours, the USCG covered an area of approximately 495 square miles, ranging from Luling to just north of Port Sulphur. Unfortunately, despite the extensive efforts, the missing crew members were not located. Consequently, the Coast Guard made the decision to suspend search operations late on Tuesday.

"The incident is currently under investigation," stated the USCG Heartland in a post on X.

The four missing crew members, whose names have not been disclosed, are Bangladeshi nationals of ages 25, 29, 30, and 47. All of them have dark hair and brown skin. They were part of the crew of the Meghna Adventure, a commercial bulk carrier flying the Bangladeshi flag.

The USCG emphasized that the decision to suspend the search was made after carefully considering the saturation of multiple assets and resources in the probable search area. Despite conducting shoreline searches and involving several agencies, the missing individuals could not be located.

"The decision to suspend a search is one that is taken with great care," stated a USCG spokesperson.

Belle Chasse, located on the west bank of the Mississippi River, was the last known location of the crew members. Bangladesh, a country in South Asia, is the flag state of the Meghna Adventure.

As the investigation continues, maritime authorities are urging anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the missing crew members to come forward. The safety and well-being of the individuals remain a top priority, and efforts will be made to uncover the circumstances surrounding their disappearance.

Despite the suspension of the search operation, the USCG remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of the waterways as further developments unfold in this unsettling case.