Toxic Gas Leak at Sitakunda Shipbreaking Yard Kills Nine Workers

SITAKUNDA, Bangladesh — At least nine workers were killed and three others injured on Friday in a workplace accident at a shipbreaking yard in the Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram. The incident occurred at the Ferdous Steel Shipbreaking and Recycling Yard, located along the coast near the Station Road area of Bhatiary Union, as the workers were engaged in cutting a scrap vessel.

Among the deceased was 27-year-old Palash Jaldas, a laborer who had recently shifted from fishing to shipbreaking work to support his growing family. His wife, Bhumika Jaldas, who is seven months pregnant with their first child, said her husband had urged her to take care of herself before leaving for his shift at 7:00 a.m. on Friday. The couple had married only last December and were living in a temporary home provided by relatives after failing to secure a stable income through fishing.

Family members reported that the victims were exposed to toxic gas while working on the scrap ship. Palash’s mother, Shova Rani Jaldas, was seen mourning beside her son’s body at the facility’s gate, lamenting that he would never see the child he had been so eagerly anticipating. Palash’s friend, Liton Jaldas, noted that the deceased had often discussed plans for his future child and had expressed regret over his inability to afford specialist medical care for his wife due to their financial struggles.

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The tragedy has devastated the local community, particularly in the Station Road area, where the impact of the accident was concentrated. Two brothers, Mohammad Mansur and Mohammad Nasir Uddin, who lived only 100 meters from Palash’s home, were among the dead. Their 70-year-old father, Sekandar Mia, said his son Mansur had left home that morning to purchase medicine but never returned. The accident has left behind several dependents, including the brothers’ school-aged daughters.

Another victim, Sani Jaldas, was also a resident of the Bhatiary Union Station Road neighborhood. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, as families of the deceased grapple with the loss of their primary breadwinners. The condition of the three injured workers remains under observation as the shipbreaking industry faces renewed scrutiny over safety protocols following the disaster.