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Death Trap!

14 workers killed in the year of 2008

Mohammad Tareq

Mohammad Tareq (21) died in a accident at Six Star Ship Yard, Kadam Rasul, Sitakund on 26 November

Mohammed Masud

Mohammed Masud (25) son of Abdul Hadi died on 14 th November 2008 in the yard named Kabir Steel Ship Breaking Yard. He was a worker of loader group. He died on the way to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH).

Najrul Islam

Najrul Islam (25) died on 25 th October 2008 in the yard named ZiriSubedar. He was a worker of loader group. He fall on the accident when a big plat of iron smashed his body. He died on the way to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH). The representatives from the owners side taken the body from the hospital without postmortem of the body. The name of the ship in this yard is MT. No. 17 Sachan (IMO 7700829).

Abul Kalam

Abul Kalam (28) died in an accident on 11 September, 2008, Time :4.00 p.m. He worked as a Cutter helper when a piece of the heavy iron plate hit him at his head. he seriuosly injured on 12.00 pm but after long time he admited into the Chittagong Medical College Hospital at the time of 3.50 pm. he died 28 no ward ( Neurosergery unit) of CMCH. His father name: Late Taiyab Ali, village: Putia, Police station Koshba, District- B-Baria The name of the yard is JS trading shipyard/ Akib Enterprise  (S. N. Corporation) owned by Mr. Showkat Aliowned by Mr. Shawkat Ali, Vice President of BSBA. The name of ship is MT ARINA I (IMO : 8004363, GT: 160010).

Jahangir Alam

Jahangir died on 6 th September'08 who was seriously injured 26 days ago in a shipbreaking yard while he was working in the yard.

Jahangir Alam (28), father: Late Azizul Gaosh, mother: Begum Nurjahan, village: Madham Sonaichari, Union-Sonaichari, post Office: Shitalpur, Upazila: Sitakund, district-Chittagong seriously injured on 12 th August, 2008 when a heavy iron plate of ship struck him. He was a cutter man of Ziri Subedar Shipbreaking yard. He was in treatment in last days. Doctors has already left the hope to save his life in last few days ago.

Haider Ali
Haider Ali (30) died after having been fallen into the lower deck of the ship and hit by a big piece of iron sheet. He was a cutter man and he was from village: Porkhali, Police Station: Gaibandha, District: Gaibundha (main), Father: Monsur Ali. The date of the accident is 10th June’08, Time: 9.30 am, He was taken to a private hospital, where he was declared as dead. An UD (Unnatural Death) case is filed in the Sitakund Police Station. The name of the ship yard is Maheen Shipbreaking Yard owned by Ashikur Rahman Maheen, Manger name is Mr. Adhar Lal Dhar.
After being informed by us The Inspection of factory and establishment department sent legal notice to the owner to deposit the compensation to the labour court in time (after 7 days of getting the legal notice). The owner already deposited the money to the Labour Court but not received by the workers yet. The name of the ship is MT EFORMA, IMO no. is 7368279, GT is 14742.

Roise Uddin
Roise Uddin Mridha(40) died in an accident on 02 June 2008, Time :2 pm. The Roise Uddin Mridha worked as a loader when a piece of the heavy iron plate hit him at his head. He died on the way to the Hospital. His father name: Late Khuda Boks, village: Borokhol, police station: Raninagar, District: Naogaon. An UD case is filed in the Sitakund Police Station. The name of the yard is Mamun Enterprise (S. Trading Corporation) owned by Mr. Md. Shafi. After being informed by YPSA, The Inspection of factory and establishment department sent legal notice to the owner to deposit the compensation to the labour court in time (after 7 days of getting the legal notice). The owner already deposited the money to the Labour Court but not received by the workers’ family yet. There were two ships in the yard which are bought in last March named MT. SETA (IMO 8134950Long Tons: 16240, Per ton price: 610 USD, Total value: 9906497 USD), and TT Gazelle (IMO No. 8117097, Long Tons: 12534, Per ton Price: 728 USD, Total value: 9275537 USD)

Ratan
Ratan (20) was killed 31 May 2008. He died while he was trying to cut a sank ship. His death is a mystery. There were several opinions about his death. The yard owner refused to give Ratan’s younger brother; Nayan the amount of compensation fixed in by law and refused to clarify the reasons for Ratan’s death. Nayan believes that his brother is killed because of the negligence of the owner and yard authority. After being forced by the NGOs the owner gave 36 thousand taka as compensation. The Inspection department has not sent legal notice to the owner. The name of the ship si MV Momtaz. The owner does not have any yard. He was cutting ship in a yard of another yard owner. He is not a formal ship breaker. That’s why he was not sent legal notice from the government. Ratan was from District Maymansing, village: Messideng, Union: Mahira kanta, PS: Gouripur. The owner Mr Siddique discovers sunk ships and cut for selling.

Hannan
Hannan (18) was killed during the night of 16 June 2008 after a horrifying accident Hannan was a cutter helper. The dead body was sent to his home district that same night without informing the police of the accident. His father name: Md Ibrahim, village: Middle BoalKhali , police station: Dighinala, District: Khagrachori (CHT area). The name of the yard is Mamun Enterprise (S. Trading Corporation) owned by Mr. Md. Shafi. After being informed by YPSA, The Inspection of factory and establishment department sent legal notice to the owner to deposit the compensation to the labour court in time (after 7 days of getting the legal notice). The owner already deposited the money to the Labour Court and received by the workers family. There were two ships in the yard which are bought in last March named MT. SETA (Long Tons: 16240, Per ton price: 610 USD, Total value: 9906497 USD), and TT Gazelle (Long Tons: 12534, Per ton Price: 728 USD, Total value: 9275537 USD)

Habibur Rahman (Rubel)
Habibur Rahman (25) was killed in an accident at midnight on 27 June 2008. The accident took place while he was cutting the ship, he was hit by a big plate of falling iron. Habibur was the sole provider of his family. He died on the way to the hospital (CMCH) . His father is Late Nurul Alam, Village: Telipara, Post Office: Bhatiary, Police Station: Sitakund, District: Chittagong. After his death the yard owner gave his family only three thousand taka (1 EUR = 106 BDT). The dead body was not sent to Forensic Department of CMCH for post-mortem. His family requested for the permission to the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) for taking the dead body without post-mortem. The ADM permitted to do so.
The name of the yard is Mamun Enterprise (S. Trading Corporation) owned by Mr. Md. Shafi. After being informed by us The Inspection of factory and establishment department sent legal notice to the owner to deposit the compensation to the labour court in time (after 7 days of getting the legal notice). The owner already deposited the money to the Labour Court but not received by the workers family yet. There were two ships in the yard which are bought in last March named MT. SETA (Long Tons: 16240, Per ton price: 610 USD, Total value: 9906497 USD), and TT Gazelle (Long Tons: 12534, Per ton Price: 728 USD, Total value: 9275537 USD)

Abdur Rashid
Abdur Rashid (25) died on 01 July 2008. He died while is working to clean to cut a tank by a pipe and a sudden fire generated because of throwing water into the tank. The fire attacked Abdul Rashid very quickly and another two workers, Nuru Safa (30) and Kamal (25) were severely injured in the same accident and rushed to CMCH. The responsible doctors declare the death of Abdur Rashid. After post-mortem the dead body was sent to his home next day of the accident. His father is late Jahedul Haque, village: Jorantal, Post office: Kumira, Police Station: Sitakund, District: Chittagong.The name of the yard is Pakhiza Enterprise owned by Mr. Sirajuddola, Manager: Mr. Md Masum. The name of the ship is Seraya Baru (IMO: 7717389)
After being informed by YPSA, The Inspection Department of Factory and Establishment sent legal notice to the owner for the compensation still the compensation is not deposited. According to the law, the case against the owner should be filed for not depositing the compensation.

Taharul Biswas
Taharul Biswas (45) died on 12 July 2008 after being fallen from the top of a ship. He worked as a fitter on the yard. His father is Iman Ali Biswas, village: Keshobpur, Post office: Gouranagar, Police Station: Baghapara, District: Jessore. After the accident he was sent to the Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) where the doctors declared his death. The name of the yard is Jamuna Shipbreaking Yard owned by Mr. Liakat Ali. The name of the ship is MV Tropical Sand, IMO no. is 7219090, GT 9932. After being informed by YPSA The Inspection Department of Factory and Establishment sent legal notice to the owner for the compensation still the compensation is not deposited. According to the law, the case against the owner should be filed for not depositing the compensation.

Sultan Nasiruddin Molla
Sultan Nasiruddin Molla (13), a child worker, died on 14 July 2008 when a big plat of iron hit on his head. He was newly appointed in the yard and he died on the first day of his work; he is the 10th victim in this year, according to our available information. His father is Mr. Alam. Village:Kadam Rasul, Post office: Bhatiary, Police Station: Sitakund, District: Chittagong. The name of the yard is Sultana Ship Yard owned by Mr. Adnanur Rahman. There was a tendency to hide his death as they sent the dead body without mentioning his name. The name of the ship which is being cut in the yard is MT Rupazi, Long Tons: 5521, Per ton price: 760 USD, Total value: 4196461 USD, Flag: Malata. After being informed by YPSA the Inspection Department of Factory and Establishment sent legal notice to the owner for the compensation still the compensation is not deposited. According to the law, the case against the owner should be filed for not depositing the compensation.

The compensation for all the workers who died in last three months is going to be deposited by the owners except RATAN. Compensation for the two workers who died on 20th April is given directly to their families which are not according to the law.

Abdul Rajjak and Abdul Majed
Two shipbreaking workers were killed due to toxic suffocative injury on 20 April 2008. The workers are Abdul Rajjak (30) and Abdul Majed (28). The workers were instructed to enter into a tank which was not properly emptied of toxic liquids - the ship was not checked before ordering the workers to go inside the tank. The dead bodies were sent to their home district at night of the 20th April in an attempt to hide the deaths. The name of the ship was EVOLUCIDIN. And the name of the ship yard is S.N Corporation owned by Mr. Shawkat Ali, Vice President of BSBA. The manager of the yard is Alauddin, According to the document, the yard authority gave compensation to the workers directly and the amount was taka One Lakh (100000 taka). They took sign from the victims families in an agreement. According to the Labour law the amount for the compensation is taka One Lakh but the procedure is to give the money through the labour court. In this was the yard authority violated the law.

The home address of Abdul Rajjak

Father name: Abdul Kuddus Sheikh, Village: Noarpara, Police station: Islampur, District : Jamal Pur.
The home Address of Abdul Mazed:
Father name: Late Erat Ali, Village: Noarpara, Police station: Islampur, District : Jamal Pur. The father of victim Rajjak received the money from the yard authorities while the wife of the victim Majed received the money signing the agreement. The Inspector of the Factory and Establishment Department of Chittagong sent legal notice to them for depositing money to the labour court, but they have replied that they gave the money directly. To ensure that the money is realy received by the families the Law is saying to deposit the money to Labour Court and the Court will give the money to the families of the victim. As the money is not deposited to the court so the doubt is there that the money is really given or not. Signature can be taken from the families by force. So, for violating the law the labour court is filing case against the yard authorities. Description of the ship: Name: Evolucidin, IMO No. 7381790 Long tons: 6215.55, Per ton price: 706 USD, Total price: 4,388,178 USD.

Newspaper Report The Daily Star