Police have filed an unnatural-death case after nine workers died from toxic gas while working in a confined section of a ship at Ferdous Shipyard in Bhatiari Union, Sitakunda, Chattogram. Faujdarhat police outpost inspector Rubel Afrad filed the case at Sitakunda police station on Monday, August 17, after no family member came forward to file one. No factory owner or other person has been named as an accused.

The deaths occurred on the morning of August 14 while the workers were employed at the ship-breaking facility. Afrad said the workers died after being exposed to toxic gas during work, describing the incident as accidental negligence. The deaths of nine workers at once have raised questions about overall safety arrangements at the shipyard.

Investigators had not entered the main site by August 17 because gas levels inside the vessel remained high, preventing the collection of gas samples and other key evidence. According to Afrad, gas intensity decreases somewhat when the tide rises but increases again as water recedes. The report identifies gas-free certification, gas detection checks, protective equipment, rescue arrangements, entry authorization and safety supervision as issues requiring scrutiny.