Published : 15 Aug 2026, 08:05 PM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:33 AM
Work is under way to remove hydrogen sulphide from a ship at a Sitakunda shipbreaking yard where a toxic gas leak killed nine people, Industries Secretary Abdun Naser Khan has said.
The secretary made the comments after visiting the site on Saturday. He said officials from the Department of Explosives had confirmed the presence of hydrogen sulphide on the vessel and were working to determine how to remove it safely.
“A high-level committee has already been formed to investigate why the accident happened. There are experts on it. The association has also formed an investigation committee, and the district administration has formed another committee,” Naser Khan said.
He said the government was treating the incident with the utmost seriousness and would take swift action if negligence by any person or organisation was found.
The industries ministry has formed an 11-member investigation committee, headed by Additional Secretary AKM Benjamin Riazi.
The committee has been asked to submit its report to the industries secretary within five working days.
Besides determining the cause of the accident, the committee will establish whether any individual or organisation was responsible and identify any negligence.
It will also recommend measures to prevent similar incidents.
The committee will examine whether workers had personal protective equipment (PPE) when the accident occurred, whether the yard authorities were negligent or lacked competence during rescue and medical operations, and whether an emergency response team was present at the yard.
Nine people were killed and seven others injured on Friday morning after toxic gas leaked from an old ship at Ferdous Steel Ship Breaking Yard in Sitakunda.
Workers, local residents and labour leaders alleged that ship-cutting work was taking place on the weekly holiday without adequate safety measures.
Officials from several government agencies also said gas had accumulated inside the vessel and that work was being carried out without first making it gas-free.
Naser Khan said the yard was a compliant facility and had carried out the safety audits required under international standards, yet the accident still occurred.
Expressing deep sorrow over the deaths, he said the government would ensure the best possible treatment for the injured.
He described shipbreaking as a promising sector and said the government would give it the highest priority.
He noted that a high-level committee, chaired by the environment minister, had met two days earlier to discuss removing obstacles and developing green shipyards.
“Now, the investigation into yesterday's unfortunate incident is our main priority,” he said.
