Ferdous Steel Shipyard in Sitakunda, Chattogram, has been closed indefinitely after a toxic gas leak killed nine workers. Bangladesh Recycling Board Director General A. S. M. Shafiul Alam Talukdar announced the closure in an emergency message on Saturday. The incident occurred on Friday at the yard, located on the coast in the Bhatiari area of Sitakunda.

An official text message signed by the BSRB director general said a Stop Operation Order would remain in force until safety is strengthened and further instructions are issued. The BSRB said it is monitoring the overall situation and will make its next decision based on safety measures at the yard and an investigation. The report said workers had been working during a holiday when the incident occurred.

Locals initially recovered five bodies from inside a ship, while four more workers later died in hospital. Several agencies, including the Department of Explosives, had said an old LNG scrap ship at the yard contained hydrogen sulphide gas, which was present at 100 ppm during the accident. Months earlier, the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments had filed a case and issued a show-cause notice over alleged safety deficiencies.