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upon receiving complaints of VAT evasion. On completion of the investigation, it can be said whether they dodged VAT and if they did, how much,” he said.

As per data from YPSA (Young Power in Social Action), which works for the safety of the workers in shipbreaking yards, 11 workers died as of November this year in different yards. Most of the deaths occurred due to the owners’ negligence in ensuring workers’ safety by providing safety equipment like gas masks and helmets, it said.

The Department of Environment in 2019 and 2020 conducted several drives at shipbreaking yards in Sitakunda upazila for polluting the environment, violating environmental regulations quite often.

The releasing of toxic substances from the yards is held responsible for damaging fish stock along the 40km stretch of Sitakunda coast, where thousands of people are exposed to the hazardous materials mostly coming from the yards.