The death toll has risen to nine after toxic gas leaked from a tank aboard a scrapped vessel at the Ferdous Steel Shipbreaking Yard in Sitakunda, Chattogram.
The accident occurred Friday morning while workers were carrying out housekeeping work on a ship at the yard.
Al Mamun, an official at the Fire Service and Civil Defence’s Sitakunda station, said three people were initially reported dead at the scene. After the victims were taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), five more deaths were confirmed. Another person has since died, bringing the death toll to nine.
Between 10 and 15 people who fell ill after being exposed to the toxic gas are currently receiving treatment at CMCH and several nearby hospitals.
Police have confirmed the identities of four of the deceased: Nasir, Mansur, Rana and Khokon. Nasir and Mansur were brothers.
Mohammad Mohiuddin of the Bhatiary area rushed to CMCH after hearing about the accident, searching for his brother-in-law Mansur. He later found Mansur’s body at the hospital and subsequently learned that Mansur’s younger brother, Nasir, had also died from gas poisoning.
Mohiuddin said the two brothers had left for work around 7am on Friday. About two hours later, their family received news of the accident. By then, he said, it was too late.
He also expressed concern about the future of Mansur’s two daughters.
Mahbubul Hasan, deputy inspector general of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), said they had received information that 10 workers had fallen ill, and that several of them had died.
Local police, firefighters and members of various volunteer organisations are carrying out rescue operations at the site.
Shipbreaking yards in Sitakunda primarily dismantle and cut up decommissioned vessels to recover iron for use in making rods. The yards have long faced allegations of unsafe working conditions.
According to statistics from the Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), at least three workers were killed and 38 others injured in various accidents at Sitakunda shipyards between July and December 2025.
