The government has established a high-level committee composed of ministers and secretaries to assess current laws, regulations, policies, and other pertinent matters concerning the ship industry in the country and propose essential reforms. This initiative was formalized through a gazette notification issued by the Cabinet Division on July 12.
As per the notification, the committee will be chaired by the Minister for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change. Its members include the Minister for Industries, the State Minister for Shipping, the Cabinet Secretary, the Finance Secretary, the Secretary of the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division, and the Secretary of the Ministry of Industries.
The committee’s mandate is to evaluate existing laws, rules, policies, and other pertinent issues related to shipbuilding, ship recycling, and shipbreaking industries and develop necessary recommendations. Additionally, the committee may enlist additional members if required, with secretarial support provided by the Ministry of Industries.
The decision has been positively received by stakeholders within the sector, who have long grappled with regulatory complexities and are hopeful that the committee will address these issues. The shipbreaking industry in Bangladesh is predominantly concentrated along the Sitakunda coast in Chattogram. While the area previously housed over 150 shipbreaking yards, only 23 have transitioned into eco-friendly ship recycling facilities as the industry moves away from traditional practices.
Taslim Uddin, proprietor of KR Shipbreaking Yard and the leading importer of scrap ships in the previous fiscal year, highlighted the longstanding challenges faced by ship recyclers, particularly regarding land-use approvals. Uddin noted the bureaucratic hurdles faced by shipbreaking yards, necessitating approvals from multiple authorities for the same parcel of land.
Nazmul Islam, the Secretary of the Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association (BSBRA), expressed concerns about the industry’s classification, emphasizing the financial losses incurred by imported ships awaiting environmental clearance under the current red-category designation.
Labor representatives welcomed the committee’s formation but underscored past committees’ perceived bias toward yard owners, neglecting workers’ grievances. Tapan Dutta, the convener of the Shipbreaking Trade Union Forum, advocated for fair wages aligned with current standards, alongside risk allowances and other benefits, given the hazardous nature of the work. Dutta emphasized the need for the committee to prioritize workers’ welfare and address longstanding labor concerns in the industry.