Staff Reporter
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md. Shahab Uddin said that the government is implementing various initiatives to make the ship breaking industry safe and environment friendly.  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 of 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 environment minister said these things in the chief guest’s speech at the workshop organized by the Department of Environment on the environmental management of ship breaking industry on Wednesday, August 16.
The Environment Minister said that 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 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 environmentally friendly economic development.
Under the chairmanship of Dr. Abdul Hamid Director General of the Department of Environment Secretary of the Ministry of Industry Zakia Sultana and Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr. Farhina Ahmed were spoke as special guests. Additional Secretary (Environment) of Ministry of  Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sanjay Kumar Bhowmik, Additional Director General of DoE Kazi Abu Taher also spoke in the workshop.  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, Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association presented on present practice of Ship Breaking activities and future development plan.