Suspend all activities at Rahim Ship-breaking Yard

Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers' Association (Bela) yesterday called on the government to suspend all activities at Rahim Steel Ship-breaking Yard at Sitakunda until a fair investigation into an oil tanker explosion at the yard is completed and the persons responsible are punished.
Four workers were killed and 30 others injured in the explosion on Saturday.
The association placed the demand in a letter sent to the ministries concerned.
In the letter, the association also sought copies of various documents from the authorities to know whether the ship-breaking yard authorities collected 'gas free' and environmental clearance certificates and whether the ship was made free from contamination before it was brought to the country.
Bela, an environmental organisation, said that the High Court in a verdict in March this year issued some directives upon the government to control the ship-breaking activities.
In a press release, Bela said the workers of Rahim Steel Ship-breaking Yard were breaking the ship, although the yard authorities did not collect any 'gas free' certificate from the directorate concerned.
The press release also said several accidents in the ship-breaking yards proved that the court directives to protect the workers and the environment are not being implemented.
The ship-breaking yards continue to violate the laws and the court orders, but the authorities have not taken any measures to check pollution and ensure the rights of workers, it added.
The letter was sent to the secretaries to the shipping, environment, home and labour ministries, directors general of the directorates of the shipping and the environment, deputy commissioner of Chittagong, chairman of Chittagong Port Authority, President of Bangladesh Ship Breakers Association and the owner of Rahim Steel Ship-breaking Yard.