Probe report blames shipyard owners

After 2020 saw several worker's death in multiple shipbreaking yards in Sitakunda upazila, a Ministry of Industry letter has put the blame on yard owners' apathy in ensuring a safe workplace for their employees.

Issued on December 30, the letter came up with the observation following a probe body investigation of the death of three workers in Khawaja Shipbreaking Yard on 25 December.

In 2020 alone,  the three workers died in the yard owned by KSRM in 2020 alone.

The two member probe-body, led by deputy secretary of Ministry of Industry Kazi Faruk Ahmed, inspected the yard at Sitakunda upazila on January 2.

The letter says the accidents continue to take place at a time when the ministry is trying hard to ensure the safety of workers in the yard.

"Accidents like this give a negative impression about the yards in the international arena," the letter read. It blamed the yard owners for their apathy in ensuring workers safety, despite repeated requests.

Contacted, Kazi Faruk Ahmed, member of probe body, told The Daily Star that after the accident, the yard authority sent an explanation to Ministry of Industry. "We will verify their description of the accident," he said.

"Action will be taken against them as per the law. We can't let this happen anymore," he added.

Tapan Dutta, president of Shipbreaking Trade Union Forum, told The Daily Star that three workers died in three separate incidents in the yard in December 2020.

Of them, two died working night shifts, something that is strictly prohibited for shipbreaking yards, he said.

"The combined apathy of yard owners and inaction of industry ministry have given rise to the number of workers' death. However, not a single case has been filed against any yard owner in the history of the industry," he added.In 2020, Ministry of Industry shut down five shipbreaking yards for failing to ensure workers safety.