Three people, including a Chinese engineer, have died after molten iron reportedly sprayed from a malfunctioning furnace at Far-Mac Steel Industries Ltd in the National Special Economic Zone in Mirsharai of Chattogram.
Four people suffered severe burn injuries in the accident on 28 September. Three of them have since died while undergoing treatment, while the fourth remains under medical care in stable condition.
The deceased have been identified as Chinese engineer Zengling Hong, 53, workers Shariful Islam, 27, and Monir Hossain, 27.
Shariful Islam and Zengling Hong were initially admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital and later transferred to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka as their conditions deteriorated. Monir Hossain was treated at Chattogram Medical College Hospital.
Shariful died at the burn institute in Dhaka on the morning of 1 October. Monir died at Chattogram Medical College Hospital that night. Zengling Hong succumbed to his injuries at the burn institute in Dhaka on the morning of 2 October.
Shariful was a resident of Amtala Union in Matiranga upazila of Khagrachhari. He is survived by two young children.
Abdul Halim, officer-in-charge of Zorarganj Police Station, told TIMES of Bangladesh that one of the injured workers died while undergoing treatment at Chattogram Medical College Hospital, while two others, including a Chinese national, died at the burn institute in Dhaka.
He said Shariful’s father filed an unnatural death (UD) case with the police on Saturday night.
Regarding the post-mortem examinations, the OC said the autopsy of one of the deceased had already been completed in Dhaka, while the procedure for another was scheduled to be completed at Chattogram Medical College. Arrangements concerning the Chinese national are being handled by the relevant embassy and the factory authorities.
The fourth injured worker, identified as Jewel, 36, is receiving treatment at the burn unit of Chattogram Medical College Hospital. His condition is reportedly stable.
Meanwhile, negotiations are underway between Shariful’s family and the factory authorities over compensation of Tk10 lakh.
A meeting was held at Zorarganj Police Station on Saturday evening involving the deceased worker’s relatives and Chinese and Bangladeshi representatives of the factory.
However, no final agreement on compensation has yet been reached.
Shariful’s father, Md Salim, said the family does not have the financial capacity to pursue a prolonged legal battle against a foreign-owned company.
“Considering the future of my son’s two children, we are seeking financial compensation rather than pursuing a lengthy legal battle,” he said.
According to factory sources, the accident occurred on the afternoon of September 28 when a technical problem developed in a furnace at the steel factory inside the economic zone.
At one point, molten iron reportedly burst out of the furnace and sprayed onto four people working nearby, causing severe burns.
