Two siblings among eight die after gas leak at Sitakunda shipyard

Eight workers, including two siblings, were killed and at least 10 others fell ill after being exposed to toxic gas leaking from a scrap vessel at a shipbreaking yard in Sitakunda, Chattogram, on Friday morning, according to officials and local residents.

The incident occurred at around 9 am at Ferdous Steel Ship Breaking Yard in the Station Road area of Bhatiari Union. The gas reportedly leaked from a cylinder aboard the scrap vessel while workers were carrying out housekeeping work inside the ship.

Fire Service station officer Abdullah Al Mamun told Daily Waadaa that three workers died at the scene. Five others later died after being taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), taking the death toll to eight.

Initial reports identified four of the victims as Sani Jaldas, 22, Palash Jaldas, 27, and brothers Mansur Ali, 40, and Nasir Uddin, 38, all residents of Bhatiari. Police later identified four of the dead as Nasir, Mansur, Rana and Khokon. The differing identities reported by officials could not immediately be reconciled.

Md Mohiuddin, a resident of Bhatiari, went to CMCH looking for his brother-in-law Mansur but found his body there. He said Mansur's younger brother Nasir had also died from gas poisoning.

“The two brothers left home for work at 7 in the morning. Within two hours, we received news of the accident. By then, everything was over. My sister has two daughters. I don't know how they will survive now,” Mohiuddin told Prothom Alo newspaper.

The impact of the gas leak was felt beyond the shipyard. Local fishermen said the smell coming from the facility was so intense that boats returning from the sea after catching hilsa could not enter the canal beside the yard.

They had to travel at least half a kilometer away before finding a place to bring their boats ashore.

A local resident, speaking to Prothom Alo newspaper on condition of anonymity, said people suddenly heard screams coming from inside the yard. When residents approached the facility, they saw sick workers being taken to hospitals in vehicles.

As reports spread that several workers were lying dead inside the ship, angry local residents entered the shipyard and vandalized parts of the facility. Police later arrived and brought the situation under control.

Another resident said two boats returning from a hilsa fishing trip were unable to approach the coast because of the strong smell of gas.

Ferdous Wahid, managing director of Ferdous Steel Shipyard told Jugantor newspaper that three workers had died at the scene and several others were injured. He said two of the injured died while being taken to hospital. The death toll subsequently rose further to eight.

Mahbubul Hasan, deputy inspector general at the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), said the agency had received information that 10 workers had fallen ill.

“We have heard that several of them have died,” he told UNB.

Sitakunda is the center of Bangladesh's shipbreaking industry, where decommissioned vessels are dismantled and cut apart, primarily to recover steel used to manufacture construction rods.

The industry has for years faced allegations that workers are routinely exposed to hazardous and unsafe working conditions.

According to figures from the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), at least three workers were killed and 38 others injured in accidents at Sitakunda's shipbreaking yards between July and December 2025.