Two shipbreaking workers found dead in Chattogram

The bodies of two shipbreaking yard workers have been recovered from a coastal area in Chattogram’s Sitakunda Upazila.

Fire Service personnel found the bodies around 8:30am on Monday near the Kumira Ferry Jetty.

The men have been identified as Saiful Islam and Abdul Khaleq, both from Gaibandha district. Police said they worked at the KR Ship Recycling Yard in Kumira.

Al Mamun, senior officer at the Kumira Fire Service, said a group of robbers allegedly entered the yard in the middle of the night to steal materials from a recently arrived vessel. He said four workers pursued them in a boat, and two later died after being attacked.

However, Industrial Police Inspector Nahid Hasan Mridha said initial findings suggested the deaths may have been caused by an accident during the beaching of the ship, adding that it did not appear at first to be a robbery.

The Fire Service said Saiful’s body showed severe injuries consistent with wounds caused by sharp weapons.