Toxic gas kills 9 at Ctg shipbreaking yard

At least nine workers were killed and 10 others injured after inhaling toxic gas while cutting a scrapped LNG vessel at a shipbreaking yard in Sitakunda, Chattogram, on Friday, in what is believed to be the deadliest single accident in the country's shipbreaking industry.

The deaths have highlighted serious safety lapses at the Ferdous Steel Shipyard, which had faced a legal case just last month for allegedly failing to comply with workplace safety requirements, despite being certified as a green yard.

The deceased were identified as Nasir Uddin, 47, his brother Mansur Ahmed, 55, Sani Jaldas, 22, Palash Jaldas, 25, Mohammad Khokon, 40, Mohammad Rana Mia, 27, Habibur Rahman, 45, Mohammad Sazzad, 35, and Matiur Rahman, 17.

Witnesses said workers entered the yard shortly after 8am to work on the scrapped LNG vessel. About 30 minutes later, locals heard screams from inside the yard.

They rushed towards the vessel but could not approach because of the strong smell of gas. At one point, they found several workers lying inside.

Angry locals later entered the yard and vandalised parts of the facility after hearing that workers were trapped inside. Police arrived and brought the situation under control.

The injured workers were kept at the yard for a considerable time, but there was no facility for first aid or for taking them to hospital.

They were later taken to Bangladesh Ship Breakers Association Hospital in Sitakunda, National Hospital and Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH). 

Nine died at the hospitals, while 10 others remained under treatment.

Witness and shipyard worker Bacchu Mia said the workers had entered the vessel to work on a gas tank.

“As soon as the cutter operator started cutting the tank, gas began leaking. Everyone who was inside the section was exposed to the gas and became sick,” he told the Daily Sun at CMCH.

Yard supervisor Mohammad Ali, however, said the yard was officially closed on Friday.

“A leakage was noticed in a tank of the scrapped LNG vessel in the morning. Some workers went there to inspect it and were exposed to the gas. Several died and others were injured,” he claimed.

Local sources disputed this account, alleging that workers had been cutting the LNG vessel for several days and that work continued on Friday despite the yard being officially closed.

Vessel not made gas-free

Fire Service and Civil Defence Chattogram Assistant Director Tawfiqul Islam said the vessel had previously carried LNG and should have been made gas-free before dismantling began.

“Such vessels must be made gas-free before they are cut. Some tanks can contain fluorine, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide,” he said.

“The accident occurred because the yard authorities started cutting the tanks without making them gas-free. The safety arrangements for the workers were also very poor,” he observed.

The effects of the gas were not confined to the vessel. Residents who approached the yard reported a strong smell of gas, while a local resident and a journalist reportedly fell sick after inhaling it.

Local journalist Mohammad Mainuddin said the smell was so strong that fishermen returning from the sea could not enter a canal beside the yard.
“They had to go at least half a kilometre away to anchor their boats,” he said.

Why was the accident reported late?

Police and Fire Service officials said the accident occurred at around 8:30am but they were alerted more than two hours later, after a call was made to the national emergency service 999 at around 10:50am.

KM Shahidullah, who works on workers' rights in the shipbreaking industry, alleged that yard owners often try to conceal accidents initially.

“Whenever an accident occurs at a shipyard in Sitakunda, the owners first try to suppress the incident. That is why, even today, they did not initially inform the local police and Fire Service,” he alleged.

CMCH emergency department physician Dr Ishtiaq Rahman said six workers had been brought to the hospital by noon. Five had died and one remained under treatment at that time.

“They had injuries consistent with an explosion as well as effects of gas inhalation,” he said.

Safety lapses despite legal action

The Department of Inspections for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) filed a case against the yard with the Chattogram Labour Court on 15 July after its authorities allegedly failed to implement safety measures despite repeated notices and reminders.

The accident has raised questions about why the yard was allowed to continue operating despite unresolved safety concerns.

According to a preliminary DIFE report, workers were cutting scrap inside an old LNG carrier berthed at the yard when gas suddenly leaked from the vessel, causing excessive carbon monoxide to spread inside.

The exposure caused severe breathing difficulties and left several workers unconscious, the report said.

DIFE Chattogram Deputy Inspector General Mohammad Mahbubul Hasan said inspectors had detected safety violations during a routine inspection.

“Following the inspection, we issued a notice to them on 2 February. Despite several reminders, the authorities failed to implement the required measures, prompting us to file the case with the Chattogram Labour Court on 15 July,” he said.

161 workers killed since 2014

At least 161 workers have died in accidents at shipbreaking yards since 2014, according to data compiled by Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), a non-government organisation that has long worked on safety issues in the sector.

With Friday's nine deaths, the number of workers killed this year has risen to 12. The death toll was nine in 2014, 16 in 2015, 17 in 2016, 14 in 2021, 10 in 2022, five in 2023, seven in 2024 and three in 2025.

The figures point to persistent safety concerns in one of Chattogram's most hazardous industrial sectors, where workers routinely dismantle vessels that may contain toxic gases, flammable residues and other dangerous materials.

YPSA Head of Advocacy Muhammad Ali Shahin told the Daily Sun that the latest deaths raised serious questions about safety practices at ship recycling yards.

“A green certificate does not guarantee that a yard is 100 percent safe. The Hong Kong Convention's safety requirements must be strictly followed,” he said.

Inadequate supervision, insufficient worker training and the pressure to complete shipbreaking quickly are major causes of such accidents, he observed.

From shipbreaking to green recycling

Bangladesh's shipbreaking industry began taking shape in Chattogram in the 1960s and grew into one of the world's largest ship recycling hubs.

The industry expanded rapidly along the Sitakunda coast, with the number of yards at one point reaching around 150.

A 2016 assessment found that Chattogram had more than 150 ship recycling yards, around 40 of which were in regular operation, while others operated intermittently or remained closed.

The industry has since shrunk considerably. Although more than 150 yards remain registered or listed in various government records, only around 40 are currently operational.

As of March 2026, 25 ship recycling yards in Bangladesh had received green-yard certification from different classification societies, according to available data.

The shift is intended to make ship recycling safer for workers and less harmful to the environment, with yards required to improve infrastructure, hazardous-material management, worker safety and recycling practices in line with international standards.

Minister visits hospital

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury visited CMCH in the afternoon to offer condolences to the families of the dead and enquire about treatment of the injured.

He said an investigation committee would be formed to determine the cause of the accident and that action would be taken based on its findings.

“It is the government's responsibility to investigate the incident and establish the facts,” he said.

The minister said the Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association would provide Tk10 lakh to the family of each deceased worker, while the government would also provide financial assistance.

Meanwhile, members of the Bangladesh Army were deployed at the shipyard to prevent any untoward incident.

Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Dr Zia Uddin said the army personnel had been deployed to maintain law and order.