'Ship breaking: Efforts on to make this industry safe, environment-friendly'
The government has taken various initiatives to make the ship breaking industry safe and environment-friendly, environment, forest and climate change minister Md Shahab Uddin has said.
As a result of various far-reaching measures taken by the government, four 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 on Wednesday while addressing a workshop organised 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.
Industries ministry secretary Zakia Sultana and environment, forest and climate change ministry secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed also spoke as special guests with Dr. Abdul Hamid, director general of the department of environment, in the chair.