Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Md. Shahab Uddin on Wednesday said that the government is implementing various initiatives to make the ship breaking industry safe and environment friendly.
The minister said this while addressing as the chief guest at a workshop organized by the Department of Environment (DoE) on the environmental management of ship breaking industry in the capital.
He said Bangladesh has recently ratified the ‘The Hong Kong International Convention’ for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships. 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.
As a result various far-reaching measures taken by the government, 4 shipyards have already become green shipyards. More than a dozen shipyards are in the process of becoming green shipyards, the minister said.
Shahab Uddin said that although the ship breaking industry has made a significant contribution to the economy of the country, all have to work to ensure its environmental protection. First of all, the safety of the workers involved and their health should be ensured.
The workers should be provided technical support. 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 environmentally friendly economic development, the minister thinks.
Chaired by Dr. Abdul Hamid, director general of the DoE, Secretaries to Industry and Environment Zakia Sultana and Dr. Farhina Ahmed among others spoke as special guests at the event.
Keynote paper on present status of environment management of dismantling of ships in Bangladesh was presented by Director (ECC) of DoE Masud Iqbal Md. Shameem and Captain Md. Anam Chowdhury, adviser of Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association, presented the present practice of ship breaking activities and future development plan.