Shramik Shakti protests Sitakunda shipbreaking yard deaths in Shahbagh

Jatiya Shramik Shakti, the labour wing of the National Citizen Party (NCP), held a protest and human chain in Dhaka’s Shahbagh today (15 August) to protest the deaths of workers from toxic gas exposure at Ferdous Steel Ship Breaking Yard in Chattogram’s Sitakunda.

The programme was held at the foot of the July Memorial in Shahbagh, where leaders of the organisation demanded compensation for the deceased workers, a neutral investigation into the incident and the prosecution of those responsible.

Mazharul Islam Fakir, convener of Jatiya Shramik Shakti, said accidents occur repeatedly at shipbreaking yards because workers are made to work without adequate safety measures.

He demanded the arrest of the owner of Ferdous Steel Ship Breaking Yard and called for the owner to be brought to justice.

He alleged that workers’ safety has long been a concern at shipbreaking yards in Sitakunda, with workers having died in accidents in the same area in the past.

“No industrial establishment should be allowed to operate without ensuring workers’ safety,” Mazharul said, warning that any attempt to cover up the incident would prompt the organisation to launch a movement with workers, students and members of the public.

Ahmed Ishaq, joint convener of the organisation, said no government could remain in power for long without standing beside farmers and workers.

He called for ensuring “justice” for workers.

The protesters also demanded an end to excessive working hours and called for safe working conditions at all shipbreaking yards, alongside compensation for the victims, an investigation into the incident and punishment for those responsible.

Jatiya Shramik Shakti also held a human chain in Chattogram over the same demands.

Speakers there said the recent deaths were not the first fatalities in accidents in the same area. 

They claimed workers had died in an accident four years ago and another worker died from toxic gas exposure two years ago.

They also alleged that the establishment had previously faced a case but was later granted permission to resume shipbreaking operations.

The speakers said establishments should not be allowed to operate without ensuring environmental and worker safety standards.

They accused the government of failing to give adequate attention to the repeated deaths of workers in Sitakunda and criticised the decision to provide Tk10 lakh in compensation to the families of the deceased workers.

Earlier, at least nine workers were killed and six others injured after toxic gas leaked from a tank inside a liquefied natural gas tanker being dismantled at Ferdous Steel Ship Recycling Industries in Sitakunda upazila of Chattogram yesterday (14 August).