2 shipbreaking workers killed as boat capsizes while trying to stop robbery in Sitakunda
The families of the deceased have been informed, and the matter has been reported to the local police station and industrial police.
Two shipbreaking workers were killed early today (5 January) after a boat capsized in the Sandwip Channel while they were trying to fend off an attempted robbery at a yard in Sitakunda, Chattogram.
The victims were identified as Abdul Khalek Ratan and Saiful Islam, both from Gaibandha district.
Police and yard officials said a group of 20–25 robbers arrived in two engine-powered boats near a shipbreaking yard in the Kumira area around 2am. Seeing the group approach the facility, workers on duty boarded another boat and chased them.
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During the pursuit, the workers' boat lost control about half a kilometre away and overturned, throwing the occupants into the Sandwip Channel. Two workers managed to swim ashore, while Ratan and Saiful went missing.
Their bodies were recovered this morning after they were found floating near another yard in the area.
Confirming the incident, Abdullah Al Mahmud, superintendent of Chattogram Industrial Police, told The Business Standard that the yard authority had informed police about an attempted robbery during the night. "Two bodies were recovered in the morning. We are investigating the incident," he said.
Taslim Uddin, managing director of KR Ship Recycling Yard, said workers had been preparing since early morning as a ship was scheduled to anchor later in the day. "They noticed a group of robbers approaching the yard in two boats. Workers on one of our boats chased them, but unfortunately the boat capsized after losing control," he said.
Another yard boat rescued two workers from the water, but two of them drowned. Fire Service personnel later recovered the bodies from a spot several hundred metres away, he added.
Taslim said the families of the deceased have been informed and the matter has been reported to the local police station and industrial police.
He also pointed to recurring security threats in the area, saying robberies at shipbreaking yards are frequent. "Last year, a gang of 20–25 robbers looted equipment and materials worth around Tk11 lakh from a yard," he said.
