Bangladesh to Launch Online Single-Window Platform for Ship Recycling Approvals
Dhaka: Bangladesh is set to modernise its ship recycling industry by introducing a single online service platform aimed at streamlining the approval process for ship recycling activities. The initiative is expected to reduce bureaucratic delays, improve transparency, and strengthen regulatory oversight as the country accelerates efforts to align its ship recycling sector with international environmental and safety standards.
The announcement was made by Bangladesh’s Adviser for Industries, Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, who said that digitalising the approval process would make it easier for ship recycling facilities to obtain the necessary permissions while ensuring greater accountability across the industry. The proposed online platform will serve as a single-window system, allowing stakeholders to process approvals through one integrated digital interface rather than navigating multiple government agencies.
Bangladesh is one of the world’s leading ship recycling nations, with the industry playing a significant role in supplying scrap steel for the country’s construction and manufacturing sectors. The industry also provides employment to thousands of workers and supports numerous downstream businesses. However, the sector has long faced criticism over lengthy approval procedures, workplace safety, and environmental management, prompting authorities to pursue comprehensive reforms.
According to Muktadir, sustainable growth of the ship recycling industry depends not only on economic expansion but also on stronger worker safety, improved environmental protection, adoption of modern technologies, and a more efficient regulatory framework. He stressed that simplifying the approval process is an important step toward making Bangladesh’s ship recycling industry more competitive in the international market.
The digital approval platform forms part of the broader JICA Ship Recycling Project, which is being implemented with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The project aims to strengthen Bangladesh’s institutional capacity while helping the country establish an internationally recognised ship recycling system that meets global standards.
Under the JICA-supported programme, several initiatives are planned to upgrade the industry’s operational capabilities. These include assessing the capacity of ship recycling yards, providing specialised training for workers, developing modern operational guidelines, verifying and certifying ship recycling facility plans, and improving the approval process for ship recycling plans through digitalisation.
Government officials believe these reforms will help local recycling yards improve compliance with international regulations while enhancing investor confidence. Muktadir said one of the government’s priorities is to build the capacity of domestic entrepreneurs and better integrate Bangladesh’s industrial sector with global markets. He added that collaboration with JICA would strengthen the country’s industrial competitiveness and support long-term sustainable development.
The initiative comes as Bangladesh continues to modernise its ship recycling regulatory framework following the entry into force of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC) in June 2025. The country has been updating its legislation, improving infrastructure, and encouraging recycling yards to adopt internationally accepted environmental and occupational safety practices.
Industry observers say that introducing an online approval system could significantly reduce administrative bottlenecks that have traditionally slowed ship imports and recycling operations. Faster processing of approvals would improve operational efficiency while allowing regulators to monitor compliance more effectively through digital records and standardised procedures.
The Bangladesh Ship Recycling Board (BSRB), established under the country’s ship recycling legislation, is expected to play a central role in administering approvals through the new system. The Board already oversees ship recycling plan approvals and regulatory compliance, and the digital platform is likely to strengthen its ability to process applications more efficiently.
As global attention increasingly focuses on sustainable ship recycling, Bangladesh’s move towards digital governance reflects a broader effort to transform one of its most important industrial sectors. By combining regulatory reforms, international cooperation, workforce development, and digitalisation, the government hopes to position Bangladesh as a more efficient, transparent, and internationally competitive destination for environmentally responsible ship recycling in the years ahead.
Author: shipping inbox
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