Bangladesh’s finance and planning minister Amir Khosru মাহমুদ Chowdhury said the government will stand beside families affected by a toxic-gas incident at a shipyard factory in Sitakunda, Chattogram. He said the owners will provide Tk10 lakh to each family of those killed. The minister made the remarks on Friday afternoon while visiting victims and injured people at Chattogram Medical College Hospital.

The incident occurred around 9 a.m. on Friday at Ferdous Steel on Station Road in Bhatiari Union. Toxic gas spread from a gas cylinder from a scrap ship at the factory, and the death toll rose to eight, according to the report. The minister also reiterated the government’s support for the affected families.

Chowdhury said instructions had been issued to form an investigation committee to determine the cause of the incident. The government will take action against anyone whose responsibility is established by the investigation. He also visited those injured in the accident at the hospital.