Sitakunda Correspondent: The company has been fined Tk 35 lakh in connection with the fatal explosion at the SN Corporation shipbreaking yard in Sitakunda upazila. Besides, as part of the disciplinary measures, all yard operations have been ordered to be closed for three months. In a directive of the Ministry of Industry, apart from the fine, a total compensation of Tk 7 lakh has been given to each family of the victims. Also, the injured workers shall be compensated with a 12-month salary, and all medical expenses related to their treatment shall be fully borne by the yard authorities. The penalty and instructions were communicated to them in a letter last Wednesday. This order was given based on the inquiry report given by Sanjay Kumar Ghosh, principal deputy secretary of the inquiry committee formed by the Ministry of Industries.
5 lakhs to the workers killed under Section 45.3 of the Shipbreaking and Recycling Rules, 2011 and additional Tk 2 lakhs as per the provisions of the Labor Act. Penalties imposed on SN Corporation include Tk 10 lakh under Section 45.4 for safety violations, Tk 10 lakh under Section 46.3 for failure to ensure safe working conditions, and Tk 10 lakh under Section 46.9 for operational misconduct. In addition, a total penalty of Tk 35 lakh with a fine of Tk 5 lakh under Section 46.1 was imposed, and the yard was ordered to be closed for three months.
Md. Shaukat Ali Chowdhury owns this NS Corporation. He is the Chairman of Eastern Bank Limited and the owner of Finlay Group. Although the boards of various banks have been restructured, Eastern Bank still has its previous management. There is an allegation against this administration for giving loans to some businesses discussed during the Awami League government. Loans that have already become defaulted.
Mohammad Barkat Ullah, CEO of SN Corporation, told the media that according to the instructions of the Ministry, the families of the six people who died in the accident have already been given 7 lakh taka. Preparing to promptly pay the fines payable to the government. Besides, an application will be made to the government to reconsider the directive to close the yard for 3 months. He said that more than 300 workers work in the yard. If the yard is closed, they will suffer along with their families. I hope the government will consider the matter from a humanitarian point of view.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labor has issued 20-point recommendations to prevent future accidents in SN Corporation. Notable among the recommendations are the prohibition of simultaneous operation of hot and cold work for safety reasons, ensuring proper ventilation while cutting tanks, engine rooms, and pump rooms, and evacuating gas before issuing a hot work permit. The letter urges the yard to employ trained and experienced personnel, strictly follow ship cutting plans, and ensure proper firefighting and rescue measures when working in high-risk areas of the ship. Meanwhile, Sitakund Upazila Executive Officer KM Rafiqul Islam told Ittefaq that the report of the investigation committee formed by the local administration to investigate the cause of the accident at SN Corporation has been submitted to the ministry. He said that this report was given to the ministry last Wednesday. They (the Ministry) will decide what to do in this regard.
Incidentally, around 11:30 on September 7, a terrible explosion took place in the SN Corporation Green (Green Certified) shipbreaking yard located in the Tetultala Sea Submarine area of the Sonaichari Union of Sitakunda Upazila. A tanker vessel that was almost wrecked was being dismantled at the shipyard. Dangerous cutting work was being done simultaneously in the engine room and pump room that day. The terrible explosion started from the engine room. On that day, a total of 16–17 officers and employees were working on the ship, but 14 were burned. 8 of them were seriously burned. 80-90 percent of their bodies, including their airways, were burned. Of those 8 people who were taken to Dhaka, 6 of them have already died. The remaining four are under treatment.
On September 9, members of the investigation committee formed by the Ministry of Industry visited the SN Corporation shipyard. The next day, on September 10, members of the investigation committee formed by the Chittagong district administration visited the yard. Earlier on the evening of September 7, the Ministry of Industry suspended all operations of SN Corporation. The next day, the Department of Environment suspended the yard’s environmental clearance and ship cutting permit.
