Worker dies in shipyard: due to accident, or heart ailment?

A worker died while working in a ship-breaking yard in Sitakunda, Chattogram, on Sunday night.

According to the Police, the worker died of an accident; because, they found bruises on his body. However, the authority at the N M Shipyard claims that the worker died from heart complications.

Aktar Mondol, the deceased worker, was from Boalia thana of Naogaon. 

Md Shamim Sheikh, inspector (investigation) at the Sitakunda police station, said, "We went to the shipyard upon receiving the news. The authority at the shipyard said, Aktar was supervising other works in an empty and scrap ship around 10 pm, when he suddenly fainted and died, while adding that he had heart complications. 

"However, we found bruises on his chest and other parts of his body. The dead body was sent to Chattogram Medical Hospital morgue for autopsy so as to find out, if Aktar died in an accident or of illness," Md Shamim Sheikh said. 

Mohammad Ali, the joint secretary of the Bangladesh Metal Workers' Federation, said, "The authority is saying that Aktar died of a stroke, but the workers say that he was accidentally hit by a piece of iron and died; as there were bruises and marks of injury on his body, it can't be a stroke."

Quoting the workers, Mohammad Ali added: as workers die while working, many shipyard owners are trying to pass the reason for the death on heart complications in recent times."

Md Ali Shahin, the co-ordinator at Platform of Bangladesh, a non-government organization that works for the well-being of workers at ship breaking yards, said, "We heard the news. We will know after the autopsy, if he died of an accident or due to some other reason."