Shipping Adviser Brig Gen (Retd) M Sakhawat Hossain has warned that shipbreaking yards failing to transition to green shipyards by December will be shut down. He noted that only 16 shipbreaking yards in Bangladesh have obtained green certification, while the rest are yet to comply with environmental standards.
The adviser made these remarks during a visit to a shipbreaking yard in Sonaiichhari, Sitakunda, Chittagong, around 12:15 pm on Saturday.
Adviser Hossain stated, “The shipbreaking industry has come a long way, but we need to assess how many yards can compete internationally. A committee formed by the ministry has submitted a report identifying issues in these yards. We will hold a meeting with the Ministry of Industries and Commerce to address these concerns.”
He highlighted the challenges of having 113 shipbreaking yards concentrated in a small area like Sitakunda, which creates hazardous conditions. “We need to explore whether these yards can be relocated. While small and medium-sized ships can be handled here, large vessels cannot. This issue has been overlooked for too long, but it’s now under scrutiny,” he added.
Responding to a question about additional VAT on ship imports, the adviser said, “I’ve discussed this with the NBR chairman. A meeting is scheduled for November with the NBR, where representatives of the Shipbreaking Owners’ Association will be invited to present their proposals. I will provide as much support as possible.”
Around 1:00 pm, Adviser Hossain visited Kabir Ship Recycling Facility in Sonaiichhari. Present during the visit were Sitakunda Upazila Executive Officer Md. Fakhrul Islam, Additional Superintendent of Police (Sitakunda Circle) Labib Abdullah, Sitakunda Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Mozibur Rahman, Acting Secretary of the Ship Recycling Board Md. Nazmul, and the yard’s Managing Director Mohammad Karim Uddin, among others.
After the inspection, Md. Nazmul, Acting Secretary of the Ship Recycling Board, said, “The yard has been reclassified as a red-category industry, creating obstacles at every step. Securing easy loans from banks is difficult, which is why two-thirds of the yards cannot transition to green certification. Obtaining environmental clearance takes about two months, yet yard owners must pay substantial interest even before cutting a ship. If this continues, entrepreneurs may turn away from the green shipyard industry
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