Bangladesh targets more than 100 green-certified ship recycling yards

Bangladesh currently has around 31 green-certified ship recycling yards, while several more are undergoing the certification process, said Industries, Commerce and Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir.

The minister called for increasing the number of green-certified yards to more than 100 through technical and financial support, along with effective enforcement of environmental standards.

He made the remarks as the chief guest at a workshop held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka on Monday.

The Ministry of Industries and the International Maritime Organization jointly organised the workshop to discuss a feasibility study report on establishing a Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDF) under the Bangladesh Safe and Environment-Friendly Ship Recycling Project.

Muktadir said Bangladesh is one of the world’s leading ship recycling countries and at one point surpassed India in terms of tonnage. Although the country has fallen somewhat behind in recent years, its position in the global ship recycling industry remains significant.

Highlighting the sector’s importance to the economy, he said ship recycling provides employment to a large number of people and supplies a significant source of raw materials for the country’s steel industry.

However, he stressed the need to ensure the sector’s development in an environmentally responsible manner by complying with international conventions and environmental standards.

He identified hazardous waste management as one of the major challenges facing the ship recycling industry. The proposed TSDF will facilitate the safe collection, storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous waste generated from ship recycling, while also creating opportunities to manage hazardous waste from other industries and electronic waste.

Industry Secretary Abdun Naser Khan chaired the workshop. Environment and Forests State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam and the Norwegian ambassador to Bangladesh also spoke at the event.