Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has said that Bangladesh cannot be allowed to become a dumping ground for hazardous waste. She called for strict enforcement of environmental laws and ensuring accountability in the ship breaking industry.
She made the call at a workshop titled ‘National Regulatory Framework for Ship Recycling and Hazardous Waste Management in Bangladesh’ held at Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka on Sunday (February 16).
She said that if urgent reforms are not made, Bangladesh will become a global dumping ground for hazardous waste.
She highlighted the humanitarian and environmental damage caused by the ship breaking industry and said that this industry cannot continue at the cost of human lives. As per the High Court’s directive, ship breaking activities in tidal areas should be banned and this decision should be incorporated into the national policy.
She also said that if this industry does not comply with international standards, then there is no reason to sustain it. I am ready to work with the Ministry of Industries to protect Bangladesh from the spread of toxic waste and ensure the safety of workers.
She said that workers in the ship breaking industry are at serious risk. Yet they do not have adequate security. He compared the ship breaking industry with the garment industry and said that in the garment industry, foreign buyers ensure that labor standards are maintained. But the owners of the ship breaking industry shirk their responsibilities.
She said, "If the environmental law is not implemented, this industry will only be legalized in the name of 'greening'." She said that European companies register ships in the name of small island nations and send them to Bangladesh. "Would any European country allow ship breaking on the seashore? Then why is there this discrimination in Bangladesh?"
She said that some shipyards were still operating without valid environmental clearances, where a worker was seriously injured recently. "We have to ensure the safety of workers," he said in his speech. It is important to implement the High Court's directives to protect the environment.'
Adviser to the Ministry of Industries and Housing and Public Works Adilur Rahman Khan, Secretary to the Ministry of Industries Zakia Sultana, and Norwegian Ambassador to Bangladesh Haakon Arald Gulbrandsen spoke at the event.