Bangladesh shipbreaking workers protest after 10 die from toxic gas

Workers in Bangladesh's shipbreaking industry protested today, demanding accountability after 10 laborers died from toxic hydrogen sulphide gas exposure. The workers laid siege to the Chattogram office of the Department of Explosives, questioning the validity of a "gas-free" certificate issued for the MT Rasi vessel before the August 14 incident.

Under the banner of the Shipbreaking Workers’ Safety Committee, the protesters presented a 12-point demand charter. They called for the publication and verification of the vessel's gas-free certificate, examination of gas-testing reports and logbooks, identification of the gas's source, and determination of responsibility for the deaths. Tapan Dutta, president of the Trade Union Centre (TUC) Chattogram district committee, stated the incident highlighted serious safety concerns and flaws in the hazardous gas detection system.

"If the vessel had been certified gas-free, how did workers get exposed to a lethal concentration of hydrogen sulphide?" asked Nazim Uddin, president of the Chattogram divisional committee of the Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal. Md Ali, member-secretary of the safety committee, urged authorities to disclose gas detection levels and test results. Deputy Inspector General Dr Md Asadul Islam received the memorandum, acknowledging that ballast tank inspections fall outside his department's purview but promising to implement measures to prevent similar tragedies.

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If the vessel had been certified gas-free, how did workers get exposed to a lethal concentration of hydrogen sulphide?