Ferdous Steel authority fined Tk 5 lakh over deaths of 9 workers

The Department of Environment has fined Ferdous Steel Ship Recycling Industries in Sitakunda, Chattogram, Tk 5 lakh for cutting ships without renewing its environmental clearance certificate. The fine was imposed following a hearing at the regional office of the Department of Environment in Khulshi, Chattogram on Wednesday morning.

According to the Department of Environment, the last environmental clearance for ship breaking at the Ferdous Steel ship-breaking yard was obtained on August 13, 2025, and was valid until August 12 of this year. However, two days after the expiration, on August 14, work on dismantling an old ship named 'MT Rasi' was underway at the yard. During this time, toxic gas leakage resulted in the tragic deaths of nine workers.

An order signed by Zamir Uddin, Regional Director of the Department of Environment, Chattogram, stated that Ferdous Steel Ship Recycling Industries was fined Tk 5 lakh for causing damage to the environment and ecosystem. Additionally, the yard has been ordered to suspend ship-breaking activities until its environmental clearance is renewed. The institution must pay the fine within the next seven days.

The Department of Environment noted that carrying out ship-breaking operations without renewing environmental clearance is a punishable offense under Section 7 of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (Amended 2010).

Meanwhile, an expert committee inspection reportedly detected the presence of toxic hydrogen sulfide gas in three additional ballast tanks of the accident-stricken vessel, raising fresh concerns over potential toxic gas hazards in other sections of the ship.