The Shipbreaking Workers Safety Committee formed a human chain in front of the Department of Explosives office in Chattogram today (Monday, August 24, 2026), protesting the tragic deaths of 10 workers due to toxic gas exposure at Ferdous Shipyard in Sitakunda. Following the demonstration, the committee submitted a formal memorandum addressed to the Inspector General through Deputy Director General Dr. Md. Asadul Islam.

Presided over by Safety Committee Member Secretary Md. Ali and moderated by Fazlul Kabir Mintu, Coordinator of the Shipbreaking Workers’ Occupational Health and Safety Information Center, the rally featured key labor leaders. Speakers included AM Nazim Uddin, President of the Chattogram Divisional Committee of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal; Rabiul Haque Shimul, Joint Coordinator of SKOP; KM Shahidullah, General Secretary of BFTUC; Md. Idris, Joint Secretary of Bangladesh Mukto Sramik Federation (Chattogram Division); Abu Ahmed Miah, member of the Shipbreaking Youth Network; and Jamal Uddin, General Secretary of the Shipbreaking Workers Trade Union Center.

Addressing the gathering, labor leaders asserted that ensuring worker safety in the shipbreaking industry is not solely the responsibility of yard owners, but relies directly on the integrity of official inspection, approval, and certification systems. They highlighted that if 10 workers die simultaneously from lethal toxic gas after a ship has been declared “gas-free,” the certification process itself must be thoroughly investigated. The committee demanded strict legal action against any officials or inspectors found guilty of negligence, duty failure, misrepresentation, improper testing, or regulatory violations in granting gas-free certificates.