BELA serves legal notice on 12 over deaths of nine workers in Sitakunda

The Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) has served legal and contempt notices on 12 individuals and organisations over the deaths of nine workers at Ferdous Steel Shipbreaking Yard in Sitakunda, Chattogram.

The notices were served on the secretaries of the ministries of Industries, Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and Labour and Employment, among others, by BELA chief coordinator and Supreme Court lawyer Taslima Islam. BELA Chattogram coordinator Munira Parvin Ruba confirmed the matter.

The notice alleges that three secretaries, directors general of several departments and the Chattogram deputy commissioner failed to comply with High Court judgments and directives, amounting to contempt of court. The recipients have been asked to inform BELA of the measures taken within three days, failing which legal action will be taken against the yard owner and others concerned.

Other recipients include the directors general of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, Department of Environment and Department of Labour; the chief inspector of the Department of Explosives; the Chattogram police superintendent; the divisional director of the Department of Environment; Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association president Mohsin Chowdhury; and Ferdous Steel owner Ferdous Wahid.

BELA alleged that Ferdous Steel imported ships from blacklisted countries despite restrictions on such imports. It said the deaths occurred amid alleged negligence and inadequate monitoring by the relevant government agencies.

According to BELA, at least six similar major accidents occurred at the same yard between 2009 and 2023, leaving at least three workers dead and three others seriously injured. Most of the victims were new workers who allegedly worked without adequate safety equipment.

The notice referred to High Court directives requiring shipbreaking yards to ensure gas-free certificates before cutting ships, restrict imports from blacklisted or grey-listed countries, properly manage waste and ensure workers’ safety.

BELA also questioned the impartiality of investigation committees formed by the Bangladesh Ship Breakers Association and the Industries Ministry, arguing that both have conflicts of interest.

The organisation demanded an independent investigation by a specialised expert body into all deaths at the yard since 2010. Its eight-point demands also include shutting the yard, cancelling its approvals, licences and no-objection certificates, and imposing restrictions on the owner’s foreign travel and seizing his passport.

SKS