Bangladesh ship-breaking yard accident (Img AI generated)
New Delhi: Eight workers lost their lives on Friday after a toxic gas leak occurred during a ship dismantling operation at a ship-breaking yard in Bangladesh’s Sitakunda area.
Several other workers were injured in the incident at the Firdous Steel ship-breaking yard. The company has not yet issued any official statement regarding the accident.
According to Mahbubul Hasan, a senior government factory inspector, the workers died after inhaling toxic gas released from the ship during the dismantling process. He said authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the leak and whether proper safety measures were followed at the workplace.
Officials are examining the circumstances surrounding the accident, including whether workers were provided adequate protective equipment and whether safety protocols were properly implemented during the ship-breaking operation.
The incident has once again raised concerns over workplace safety standards in Bangladesh’s ship recycling industry, which employs thousands of workers but has frequently faced criticism over hazardous working conditions.
Bangladesh’s ship-breaking sector is one of the largest in the world and is concentrated along a 20-kilometre coastal stretch in Sitakunda, Chattogram.
The region contributes significantly to global ship recycling activity, accounting for around 36% of worldwide ship-scrapping operations.
The area has nearly 150 registered ship-breaking yards, generating an annual turnover of approximately $2.46 billion and supplying more than half of Bangladesh’s scrap steel requirements.
Thousands of workers depend on the industry for employment, but accidents involving toxic gases, explosions, and unsafe working conditions have repeatedly highlighted the need for stronger safety regulations and enforcement.
