Accident in Ship-breaking yard

Tk 10 lakh compensation for each victim demanded

Labour leaders yesterday demanded compensation amounting to Tk10 lakh for each of the ship-breaking yard workers who died and sustained injuries in a recent workplace accident in Chittagong.
The labour leaders under the banner of Ship-breaking Workers’ Trade Union Forum came up with the demand at a press conference at Chittagong Press Club. While reading a written statement at the press conference, Tapan Datta, convener of Ship-breaking Workers’ Trade Union Forum, issued an ultimatum to the authorities to provide the compensation within seven days.
“We will be compelled to go for a tougher programme if the yard authorities do not provide the compensation within the deadline,” said Datta who is also president of Bangladesh Trade Union Centre, Chittagong.    
Referring to a deadly fire accident which took place at a ship-breaking yard on September 5 this year, the labour leader informed that a total of eight workers sustained critical injuries from the accident and four of them later succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment at Burn and Plastic Surgery unit of Chittagong Medical College Hospital.
The labour leaders at the press conference claimed that the ill-fated workers died due to negligence in treatment and lack of sufficient supervision on the part of the yard authorities.
The labour leaders also informed that 62 workers were killed while 111 others grievously injured in the accidents that occurred in workplace accidents at different ship-breaking yards in Chittagong in the last five years.   
“Soon after the accident, we rushed to the CMCH and Al Amin Hospital where the workers were admitted. We on behalf of the forum demanded better treatment of the workers to the yard authorities. We also urged the yard owner to provide the injured workers with Tk 10 lakh each as compensation,” said AM Nazim Uddin, joint convener of the foreum and president of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal (Chittagong Division).
“We contacted the leaders of Bangladesh Ship-breakers’ Association about the compensation. However, it is a matter of great regret that no mentionable progress was seen in this regard,” said Nazim. “The deadly accident took place due to the deliberate negligence of the yard owner and it is a punishable crime as per the laws of the country,” claimed Nazim.

Accident in Ship-breaking yard

Tk 10 lakh compensation for each victim demanded

Labour leaders yesterday demanded compensation amounting to Tk10 lakh for each of the ship-breaking yard workers who died and sustained injuries in a recent workplace accident in Chittagong. The labour leaders under the banner of Ship-breaking Workers Trade Union Forum came up with the demand at a press conference at Chittagong Press Club. While reading a written statement at the press conference, Tapan Datta, convener of Ship-breaking Workers Trade Union Forum, issued an ultimatum to the authorities to provide the compensation within seven days. We will be compelled to go for a tougher programme if the yard authorities do not provide the compensation within the deadline, said Datta who is also president of Bangladesh Trade Union Centre, Chittagong. Referring to a deadly fire accident which took place at a ship-breaking yard on September 5 this year, the labour leader informed that a total of eight workers sustained critical injuries from the accident and four of them later succumbed to their injuries while undergoing treatment at Burn and Plastic Surgery unit of Chittagong Medical College Hospital. The labour leaders at the press conference claimed that the ill-fated workers died due to negligence in treatment and lack of sufficient supervision on the part of the yard authorities. The labour leaders also informed that 62 workers were killed while 111 others grievously injured in the accidents that occurred in workplace accidents at different ship-breaking yards in Chittagong in the last five years. Soon after the accident, we rushed to the CMCH and Al Amin Hospital where the workers were admitted. We on behalf of the forum demanded better treatment of the workers to the yard authorities. We also urged the yard owner to provide the injured workers with Tk 10 lakh each as compensation, said AM Nazim Uddin, joint convener of the foreum and president of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal (Chittagong Division). We contacted the leaders of Bangladesh Ship-breakers Association about the compensation. However, it is a matter of great regret that no mentionable progress was seen in this regard, said Nazim. The deadly accident took place due to the deliberate negligence of the yard owner and it is a punishable crime as per the laws of the country, claimed Nazim.