United News of Bangladesh

Nine workers, including two siblings, died and 13 others fell ill after inhaling leaked gas during shipbreaking at a yard in Bhatiary of Sitakunda upazila on Friday morning. The deceased were identified as Sani Jaldas, Palash Jaldas, Mansur Ali and his brother Nasir Uddin, of the Bhatiary area, and Khokon, Abdul Alim, Rana, Habibur Rahman and Matiur Rahman. Witnesses said a gas pipeline was accidentally severed while workers were dismantling a ship at Ferdous Steel Ship Recycling Industries around 11:15am, located along the Bay of Bengal coast west of Bhatiary Railway Station. Leaked gas spread through the shipbreaking yard, causing several workers to inhale it and fall ill. Locals said two workers died on the spot while 20 others fell sick after inhaling gas. The affected workers were rescued and initially taken to Bhatiary BSBA Hospital. Some of them were later shifted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where seven more died during treatment. The shipbreaking yard, owned by Ziri Subedar Group, witnessed a similar incident on September 16 last year, when eight workers were burnt in an oil tank explosion. In another incident at the SN Corporation Shipbreaking Yard in Sitakunda on September 7, 2024, 12 workers were injured. Six of them later died after reportedly inhaling leaked gas.

At least five people have died in a week after being bitten by a rabid dog in Sundarganj upazila of Gaibandha, triggering panic over rabies in the area amid a reported shortage of vaccines at local health facilities. The latest victim, Yasmin Sultana, 40, died on Wednesday at her house at Bajra Konchibari village. According to locals, a rabid dog attacked at least 13 people, including children and women, in several villages of Konchibari and Chaprohati unions on April 22. The injured initially received treatment locally and later went to Gaibandha General Hospital seeking anti-rabies vaccines. However, vaccines were reportedly unavailable, forcing them to seek treatment elsewhere, many struggling due to financial hardship. Among the victims, Afroza Begum, 50, died on Tuesday while undergoing treatment at Rangpur Medical College Hospital, while Nanda Rani and Fulu Mia died on May 6, and Ratneshwar Kumar, a mason, died on May 8. Yasmin Sultana became the latest victim, raising the death toll to five, according to local authorities. Currently, eight other victims are undergoing treatment at home after returning from hospital, with two reported to be in critical condition. The upazila administration has provided Tk 10,000 in financial assistance to each affected family. Upazila Nirbahi Officer Effat Zahan Tuli said the administration is monitoring the condition of those still undergoing treatment.

Noakhali, Sept 28 (UNB) - Six people died and another fell sick, reportedly after drinking spirit mixed with liquor at Mohammadnagar village in Companiganj upazila early Saturday.