Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque has said he is optimistic that Bangladesh’s ship recycling industry will regain its place among the country’s leading industrial sectors.
He made the remarks while visiting PHP Ship Recycling Yard in the Shitalpur area of Sitakunda, Chattogram, on 1 October.
Industry and workers together
The minister said the sector could supply raw materials to the steel and related industries in the coming years. He also stressed that ensuring the rights and welfare of workers is just as important as industrial progress, and urged yard owners to make sure workers receive their legal entitlements.
Chattogram City Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain, Labour Ministry Secretary Md Abdur Rahman Tarafdar and Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments Director General Md Farhad Siddique accompanied him. Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association President Mohammad Mohsin and yard Managing Director Zahirul Islam Rinku received the delegation.
Safety remains the test
The visit comes as the industry works to modernise and improve safety. The sector’s growth will depend partly on safer workplaces and stronger welfare measures, alongside compliance with the Hong Kong Convention.
Source: The Business Standard. Photo: IMO, from an earlier project in Bangladesh.
Photo: International Maritime Organization / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
