Ship breaking yards
Most of the ship breaking yards of our country are located in Chittagong, adjacent to the Bay of Bengal. These ship breaking yards provide us a major percentage of our need of iron. These also give us working opportunities for our unemployed people. In spite of these opportunities, these yards are so much harmful for our environment as well as our eco-system. Every year these yards receive many ships for breaking which contains numerous harmful substances including oil, asbestos, toxic colours and various poisonous chemical substances.
The final destination of these substances is our Bay of Bengal. Even, the small broken pieces of iron are thrown into sea which makes sea water unfavourable for plants and living beings. As a result, the eco-system of our sea is hampered. The broken powder of iron and lead is freed in the air. By inhaling this polluted air, many people adjacent to this area are suffering from numerous respiratory diseases.
These ship-breaking yards are also responsible for sound pollution.
The sound which is produced in yards exceeds normal tolerable limit.
Moreover, the labourers of ship breaking yards are engaged in a hazardous occupation.
They lose their lives in accidents which occur in ship breaking yards frequently. On 26 December 2009, many workers lost their lives in a yard in Madambarir Hat in Chittagong. Injured labourers are not also treated well and they get no compensation from the owners. Ships in this yard come from different developed countries of Europe and we bear the burden. As it has so much adverse affects on our environment, our government should take steps to close these ship breaking yards.
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