Govt working to make shipbreaking industry environ-friendly: Shahab

City Desk :
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin on Wednesday said the government is implementing various initiatives to make the shipbreaking industry safe and environment-friendly.

Bangladesh has recently ratified the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, he said.

The environment minister made the remarks at a workshop on the environmental management of shipbreaking industry, organised by the Department of Environment (DoE) in the capital, reports BSS.

Addressing as the chief guest, he said 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 shipbreaking industry.

As a result of various far-reaching measures taken by the government, four shipyards have already become green shipyards, Shahab Uddin said, adding:
“More than a dozen shipyards are in the process of becoming green shipyards.”

Although the shipbreaking industry has made a significant contribution to the economy of Bangladesh, all have to work to ensure its environmental protection, he said.

“First of all, the safety of the workers involved and their health should be ensured.

They should provide 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 environment-friendly economic development,” the minister said.

Chaired by the DoE Director General Dr Abdul Hamid, the workshop was addressed, among others, by Industry Secretary Zakia Sultana, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, Additional Secretary (Environment) of the ministry Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik and Additional Director General of the DoE Kazi Abu Taher.