Toxic gas leak at Bangladeshi shipyard kills eight workers

Authorities confirmed that a toxic gas leak at the Ferdous Steel Ship Breaking Yard in the Sitakunda area of Chattogram claimed the lives of at least eight workers and left several more injured. Police inspector Mohammed Alamgir initially reported six deaths, but two more workers succumbed after being taken to medical facilities. Senior government factory inspection official Mahbubul Hasan stated that the fatalities were caused by poisonous gases emitted from the ship and noted that investigators are examining whether proper safety protocols were in place.

The incident occurred during the dismantling of a retired vessel at a yard that is part of Bangladesh's expansive shipbreaking industry, which accounts for roughly 36% of global ship scrapping and generates billions of dollars annually. The sector, concentrated along a 20-kilometer stretch of the Sitakunda coast, provides employment for tens of thousands of people. Environmental groups have long criticized the industry for lax safety standards and the handling of hazardous waste imported from abroad. The company has not yet responded to requests for comment.