Efforts on to make ship breaking industry safe

Staff Correspondent: Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md. Shahab Uddin yesterday said that the government has taken various initiatives to make the ship breaking industry safe and environment-friendly.
As a result of various far-reaching measures taken by the government, 4 shipyards have already become green and more than a dozen shipyards are in the process of becoming green, he said. The environment minister said these while addressing a workshop organized by the Department of Environment on the environmental management of ship breaking industry.
Bangladesh has recently ratified the the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, said the minister adding that the Bangladesh Ship Recycling Act, 2018, Bangladesh Ship Recycling Rules, 2011 and Medical Waste (Management and Processing) Rules, 2008 have been enacted aimed at building a sustainable ship breaking industry.
“Although the ship breaking industry has made a significant contribution to the economy of Bangladesh, we all have to work to ensure its environmental protection. First of all, the safety of the workers involved should be ensured. They should be provided with technical support,” he said.
“It is important to explore how to advance this growing industry by identifying and eliminating environmental hazards. All stakeholders must work together to ensure sustainable and environment-friendly economic development,” added the minister .
Secretary of the Ministry of Industry Zakia Sultana and Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Farhina Ahmed also spoke as special guests with Dr. Abdul Hamid, Director General of the Department of Environment, in chair.