Shipbreaking Pollution: File counter cases - JS body chair asks yard owners

Chittagong, May 6: Shipbreaking yard owners should file a case against each filed against them, said ABM Abul Kashem, chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce, yesterday terming the owners “afraid of cases”.

Lawmaker Kashem claimed the owners do not bring ships containing asbestos, which are very harmful for the environment.

He was speaking as a special guest at a seminar titled “Environment-friendly shipbreaking industry, our duty” organised by Environmental and Human Rights Development Society, a non-government organisation, at Agrabad Hotel in Chittagong.

Industries Minister Dilip Barua, addressing as the chief guest, said after talking with the owners, he was convinced about their consciousness on environmental issues and they were very much accountable to the country.

Dilip said Bangladesh has no iron mine and so the steel industry is absolutely dependent on the shipbreaking industry. So it is our duty to save this kind of growing industry, he added.

Hefajetur Rahman, president of Ship Breakers Association of Bangladesh, also spoke with the society's Executive Director AB Razzak in the Chair.

Source: The Daily Star. 7 May 2011

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=184583