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| Workers carrying heavy plates in a ShipBreaking yard in Chittagong |
Three workers of a shipbreaking yard were crushed to death and another injured when a heavy iron plate fell on them at Madambibir Hat under Sitakunda upazila in the district on Saturday evening, 9 October 2010.
The deceased were identified as –
- Abul Kalam, 20, of Noakhali;
- Mohammad Faruk, 30, of Bhatiari area under Sitakunda uapzila and
- Abul Bashar, 35, of Bogra.
At least 12 workers were carrying the heavy plate of steel, witnesses said, adding that the death toll could increase.
Injured worker Aminul Islam, 25, was being treated in Chittagong Medical College Hospital
The Sitakunda police officer-in-charge, Nur Mohammad, said a case had been filed in this connection.
A heavy iron plate suddenly fell on the three workers leaving them dead on the spot around 7.00pm while working at the yard of Sima Steel, owned by one Mohammad Shafi, said Abdur Razzak, sub-inspector of Sitakunda Police Station.
Police sent the bodies to Chittagong Medical College Hospital
A number of workers, however, said the yard's owner allowed no one to enter the yard till filing this story at 10:00 pm.
With this, at least 34 workers were killed and several others injured in the last 18 months in 16 accidents in 16 shipyards, mostly due to explosions and coming in contact with toxic materials in ships.
On March 5, 2009, the Supreme Court directed the government to ensure safety of those working at shipbreaking yards.
The government has so far failed to comply with the directive, as it allows the yards to operate without ensuring workers' safety, and also without obtaining environment clearance certificates.
Source: The Daily Star, 10 October 2010
http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=157874 
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