Scrap ship import to be allowed on condition

The High Court (HC) on Monday said import of scrap ship will be allowed on several conditions for ensuring public and workers' safety and environmental protection.

The court imposed the conditions, which will be applicable until framing of rules in the light of six existing laws for protecting health, life and environment.
It said no ship can be broken without cleaning toxic gas.
Untrained labourers and workers under 18 years old cannot be engaged for breaking ship, the court said.
They will be trained at an institute which will be set up by the owners of shipyard under the supervision of Bangladesh Marine Academy, it added.
The court also directed the marine academy to prepare a manual within 15 days for setting up the institute where the workers will be given training for two months, including a 15-day academic training, the HC said.
A marine engineer will be present during the ship breaking, the HC said adding that the owners of shipyards will ensure the present of marine engineer.
The entire ship breaking work will be monitored by a special team, the court mentioned.
The team will include a naval architect of Marine Academy nominated by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), a chemical engineer nominated by Buet, a representative from Department of Environment (DoE) and a representative of Waste Concerned, an environmental organisation.
The specialised team will submit report on the records of the worker to the Directorate of Labor on a regular basis.
The HC bench of Justice AHM Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik and Justice Sheikh Md Zakir Hossain issued the directives after disposing of a petition filed by Bangladesh Ship Breakers Association.
The court said a separate place will have to be fixed out of the scrapping ship for eating and taking rest of the ship breaking workers
No ship breaking work will be allowed after dusk, it said.
The court further said no ship will enter the country without pre-cleaning and environmental certificate.
If anyone violates the conditions, he will be punished on charge of committing the contempt of court.