Dhaka:The government of Bangladesh is set to expedite the establishment of a Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDF) and streamline approval processes within the shipbuilding and recycling industry. This initiative aims to enhance the country's attractiveness to foreign buyers, according to Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Muktadir addressed these plans during a meeting at the Ministry of Commerce. The meeting focused on reviewing and recommending changes to current ship recycling laws, rules, and policies. Key topics included waste management, yard modernization, environmental compliance, and reducing approval delays.
The minister emphasized Bangladesh's need to compete with other countries by improving capacity and efficiency to secure more international ship orders. He suggested that domestic procedures be simplified using the policies of leading shipbuilding nations as benchmarks. A special committee, led by Muktadir, is tasked with simplifying these rules and procedures.
Muktadir highlighted the importance of implementing the Hong Kong Convention to bring the ship recycling sector up to international environmental standards. He also stressed the need for effective enforcement of laws and urged regulatory agencies to adopt a more dynamic approach. The process of establishing the TSDF will be expedited to support these goals.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo pointed out that the absence of a TSDF has deterred European ships from operating in Bangladesh, preventing the sector from realizing its full potential. He called for the necessary infrastructure to handle recyclable materials from European vessels.
Industries Secretary Abdun Naser Khan reported on the progress of a working group focused on creating a one-stop service platform to accelerate ship recycling operations. This includes drafting guidelines for green yards and decentralizing clearance processes to improve efficiency. The meeting also discussed reducing the delay in obtaining approvals by completing them locally in Chattogram.