Worker's death at 'green-certified' shipbreaking yard at Sitakunda sparks police suspicion, conflicting accounts from authorities

A 60-year-old worker died on Monday evening (24 November) after being injured at a green-certified shipbreaking yard in Sitakunda, Chattogram, raising fresh concerns over safety standards in the industry. While the factory authorities claim the worker died of illness, industrial police say he fell from a height while on the job.

The incident occurred at Jamuna Ship Breaking Yard in Shitalpur, which received its green certification earlier this year. The yard is owned by Layekot Ali Chowdhury, brother of Sawkat Ali Chowdhury, owner of SN Corporation, where a massive explosion on 7 September last year killed six workers and injured six more.

The deceased, Azim Uddin (60), was a resident of Naogaon and worked as a cutting helper at the yard.

Mezbah Uddin, manager of the yard, told The Business Standard this afternoon (25 November), "Azim Uddin had been unwell. Around 11am he suddenly fell sick and was admitted to a private medical centre in Chattogram city, where he later died. His family has been informed, and the body will be handed over after legal procedures."

However, Industrial Police Inspector Morshed Parvez offered a different account: "Our initial probe suggests the worker fell from a height, likely from a ship, while working in the morning. 

He was critically injured and died around 7pm at Chattogram Medical College Hospital."

Asked about the factory's version, Parvez said owners often attempt to cover up workplace accidents. "Workers aren't even allowed to bring mobile phones inside. The body must be sent for autopsy as per rules, and only then will the real cause of death be confirmed."

Labour leaders and industry experts expressed concern that such an incident occurred in a green-certified yard, which is expected to meet international safety standards.

Fazlul Kabir Mintu, member-secretary of the Chattogram Trade Union Centre and coordinator at the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies, said, "When a worker is injured or killed in a facility that has secured a green certificate, it raises questions about whether those standards are truly being followed. It also shows gaps in monitoring by authorities responsible for enforcing these standards."

He demanded proper compensation for the victim and stricter enforcement of workplace safety.

Shipbreaking industry expert Mohammad Ali Shahin warned that recurring accidents could undermine international confidence in green-certified yards. "The entire industry risks losing credibility," he said, urging stricter compliance with safety protocols.