Ship breakers association launches probe into Sitakunda's Ferdous Steel accident

The Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association (BSBRA) has formed a five-member committee to investigate the accident at Ferdous Steel's shipbreaking yard in Chattogram's Sitakunda that left nine workers dead.

The committee was formed today (14 August) following a letter from the management of Ferdous Steel Ship Recycling Industries regarding the accident, according to a BSBRA notice.

Captain Anam Chowdhury, technical adviser to the BSBRA, has been appointed convener of the investigation committee.

The other members are BSBRA adviser Mohammad Naim Shah Imran, BSBRA technical consultant Captain Sirajul Mowla, Engineer Mahabubur Rahman, managing director of HR Ship Management Ltd, and Nazmul Islam, acting secretary of BSBRA, who will serve as member secretary.

The association has instructed the committee to conduct the investigation on an urgent basis and submit a report identifying the cause of the accident.

Copies of the investigation order have been sent to the secretary of the Ministry of Industries, director general of the Bangladesh Ship Recycling Board and officials responsible for the ministry's ship recycling wing.

Earlier in the day, a toxic gas leak from a tanker killed nine workers and injured six others while they were cutting a ship at the Ferdous Steel shipbreaking yard around 8:30am.

The bodies of six victims were taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital and one to the city's National Hospital, while two remained at the accident site as of this afternoon.

The accident comes amid continuing concerns over worker safety in Bangladesh's ship recycling industry, where workers face risks from toxic gases, confined spaces, heavy machinery and other hazardous conditions.