Ship-breaking recognised as industry

The government yesterday took decision to place the ship breaking sector under the Ministry of Industries.
The decision was taken at a high level meeting on ship breaking and ship recycling with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair at her office.
The prime minister said the ship breaking sector has been identified as a separate industry considering its huge potentials and economic involvement.
She, however, cautioned that the authorities concerned will have to be careful so that the ship breaking industry does not cause any harm to the environment.
“We have to protect our environment at any cost,” Hasina said.
The premier also asked all individuals and institutions involved in the ship breaking industry to abide by conventions and laws about environmental impacts of the ship breaking.
“Laws and conventions regarding the ship breaking and environmental issues must be followed to protect natural environment,” she said.
The prime minister also directed the authorities concerned to bring the ship breaking yards in a disciplined and well organised system.
Ship breaking industry here and there causes serious threats to environment as well as lands of the country, she said.
“Our agricultural lands and coastal forests are inevitable parts of our food security and environment. We must ensure proper utilisation of our lands,” she said.
The meeting also observed that after the declaration of the ship breaking sector as an industry, this industry will advance much and help reduce cost of rods to a great extent.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed, State Minister for Environment and Forest Hasan Mahmud, PM's Adviser HT Imam, Principal Secretary to PM MA Karim and PMO Secretary Mollah Waheeduzzaman were, among others, present.