A Correspondent:
Sitakunda, Chattogram: Industries and Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir yesterday said negligence has been identified in the investigation into the deaths of 10 people from toxic hy-drogen sulfide gas at Ferdous Steel Recycling Industries, and punitive action will be taken against those found responsible through due judicial process.
“The investigation report has identified various instances of negligence. Action will be taken against the yard owner under the existing law through the judicial process. However, we can’t de-termine what the punishment will be; it will be decided through the judicial process,” he said.
The minister came up with the development at a press conference at the Ministry of Industries in the city on the investigation report into the incident at Ferdous Steel Ship Recycling Yard in Sitakunda, Chattogram.
He said toxic gas was suddenly released while a tank was being cut open.
The gas was so intense that those exposed to it lost consciousness immediately, resulting in the deaths of 10 people, he added.
Additional Secretary of the Industries Ministry AKM Benjamin, BUET Chemical Engineering De-partment Professor Dr Md Yasir Arafat Khan, head of the three-member expert committee formed to investigate the gas leakage and assess potential risks, and other committee members were pre-sent at the press conference.
The minister said the possibility of a fatal gas such as hydrogen sulfide being released from plastic materials in such incidents was not widely known in the industrial sector before the accident.
The incident, therefore, has provided an important lesson for the sector, he added.
He said the investigation report has also made recommendations for preventing similar accidents in the future.
Immediately after receiving news of the accident, the government contacted the relevant associa-tion and took prompt measures for treatment of the injured, the minister said.
The concerned association also informed the government about financial assistance for the families of the deceased, he added.
He said officials of the recycling yard remained at the site from the morning following the accident.
“From noon, the Army cordoned off the entire area to prevent any further accident. Safety measures were maintained until authorities were certain that the gas leakage had completely stopped,” he added.
The government formed the investigation committee to determine the actual cause of the accident and prevent recurrence of such incidents.
The committee submitted its report within the stipulated time, identifying both the causes of the accident and areas of negligence.
The minister said the ship recycling industry is still developing.
A few years ago, the sector was at a relatively early stage, while several recycling yards have now obtained green certification and a number of others are undergoing the certification process, he added.
Emphasizing government accountability and transparency, he said the government is committed to placing accurate information about any accident or incident before the public transparently.
“A culture of publishing investigation reports within the stipulated timeframe is being established whenever an investigation committee is formed,” he said.
Replying to a question from journalists about the nature of punitive action against the yard owner, the minister said the investigation report has made recommendations in this regard.
“Under the existing law, whatever punishment is applicable will be imposed through the judicial process. We cannot determine what the punishment will be,” he said.
