Chinese national among two dead after ‘inhaling poisonous gas’ in abandoned barge in Mongla

Two persons, including a Chinese national, have died after ‘inhaling poisonous gas’ stored in an abandoned barge at Bagerhat’s Mongla.

The Chinese victim has been identified as ‘Zhang’, 50, an official of Sinohydro working in river training of the Padma Bridge project.

Bangladeshi Masud Sheikh, 42, a technician of Bashundhara Group’s Meghna Cement Mills, died when he went to rescue Zhang, Meghna Cement General Manager Shakir Ahmed told bdnews24.com.

He said Zhang, who came to check the barge for sale, entered a chamber closed for years and fell unconscious around 11:30am on Sunday.

Masud went to see what happened to him sometimes after getting no response from the Chinese.

They were taken to Mongla Port Hospital where the doctor pronounced them dead.

Shakir said Meghna Cement bought the barge in 2002 and put it up for sale some days ago.

The bodies had been sent to Bagerhat Sadar Hospital for post-mortem examination, Mongla Port Police Station Sub-Inspector Manzur Elahi said.

Shakir said they might have died from poisonous gas stored in the chamber.

A delegation from Sinohydro visited the site later, he added.