Ensure safe environment for ship-breaking workers

Leaders of Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS) at a press conference in Chittagong yesterday demanded safe work environment for workers in the ship-breaking industries to avert injuries and tragic death.
BILS organised the press conference at Chittagong Press Club in the backdrop of recent incidents injuries of the workers in ship breaking yards.
Mentionable, five workers sustained burn injuries at Kabir Steel Yard at Baro Aulia at Sitakunda on Saturday during cutting plates with gas cutter. One of them succumbed to his injuries next day.
Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal President and BILS Secretary General Nazrul Islam Khan spoke at the conference.
Nazrul said workers mostly coming from poor families from different parts of the country work in a very risky environment in the ship breaking yards at Sitakunda and very often they meet tragic death and suffer from serious injuries.
He urged the owners of the ship breaking yards to provide safety devices and fireproof dresses and shoes to the workers.
Ship Breaking Industry Workers Trade Union Forum Convener and Trade Union Centre (TUC) Chittagong unit President Tapan Dutta, Forum joint convener and divisional president of Sramik Dal Nazim Uddin and Forum joint convener and Jatiya Sramik League central leader Safar Ali also spoke.