Shipbreaking policy by next month
Says minister
The government will finalise a policy for building, breaking, and recycling of ships by the next month (October), Industries Minister Dilip Barua said yesterday.
"It will be a comprehensive policy with specific guidelines so that the industry does not pollute environment and water", he said.
The minister also urged businesspeople not to bring toxic ship. He, however, did not say anything about what punitive measure will be taken if businesses bring toxic ship.
Dilip Barua was speaking as the chief guest at a seminar styled "Ship recycling: Bangladesh perspective" organised by the Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering of the Bangladesh University of Engineering Technology (Buet) at its Council Building.
The government has considered the shipping industry the third prioritised sector, which is believed to have significant contribution for accelerating the country's economy, he said.
Talking about industrial boost, Barua said the country has experienced 6.7 percent industrial growth this year, and it is expected to grow at 7 percent next year.
Presenting a paper, Dr Abdullahel Bari, president of Association of Naval Architect and Marine Engineers, Bangladesh, said the country earns a profit of over Tk 880 crore annually from this sector.
He said ship breaking and recycling industry provides more than half the country's steel supply.
Referring to a World Bank study, Dr Bari said the industry provided 2.5 million tonnes of steel in 2008-2009 fiscal year, and around 22,000 workers are involved in this sector.
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