Nine workers died on 14 August 2026 at Ferdous Steel Ship Recycling Industries in Sitakunda, in an incident linked to the MT Rasi vessel. Subsequent inquiries found hydrogen sulfide, methane, carbon dioxide and ammonia gases at the site. The article questions why the deaths occurred despite the yard holding Hong Kong Convention compliance certification, ISO management certification and formal approval from the Bangladesh Ship Recycling Board.

According to NGO Shipbreaking Platform information cited in the article, the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments had taken legal action against Ferdous Steel a month earlier for repeated occupational safety failures. The article says hazardous-gas risks in enclosed spaces require isolation, waste removal, forced ventilation, air testing at multiple levels, written entry permits, protective equipment, supervision and trained rescue teams.

It calls for an independent investigation and publication of the full report, including scrutiny of yard managers, regulators and certifying bodies. Proposed measures include unannounced inspections, an online database of yard certificates and violations, review of certificates after fatal accidents, specialist rescue teams, hospital preparedness and protections for workers refusing unsafe work.