Bangladesh’s Ship Recycling Industry Undergoes Major Reforms Amid Global Pressure
Chattogram, July 21, 2025
Once at the centre of global concern for unsafe and environmentally damaging shipbreaking practices, Bangladesh is now taking visible and determined steps to clean up its act. From improved safety standards to international collaboration, the country’s ship recycling industry is undergoing a notable transformation.
For years, the South Asian nation was criticized for poor working conditions, environmental negligence, and lack of regulation in its shipbreaking yards—especially those located along the coast of Chattogram. Human rights advocates, environmental watchdogs, and maritime industry observers alike condemned the industry for exposing workers to hazardous materials like asbestos, heavy metals, and toxic sludge without adequate protection. Fatal accidents were not uncommon. Neither was the dumping of pollutants into nearby waters.
But according to Mohammed Zahirul Islam, Vice President of the Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association (BSBRA), those dark days are being steadily left behind. “We’ve heard the criticism, and we’re acting on it,” he said during a recent webinar hosted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). “What we’re building today is a safer, cleaner, and internationally aligned ship recycling industry.”
At the heart of this transformation is growing government leadership, stronger ties with global regulatory bodies, and new national legislation designed to bring Bangladesh in line with international norms—most notably the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, which comes into force in June 2025.
“The government has enacted the Ship Recycling Act 2018, and with the Hong Kong Convention becoming active globally this year, our yards are working hard to upgrade facilities,” said Islam. “We’re training workers, setting up proper waste management systems, and ensuring safety measures are not just in place, but enforced.”
Collaboration with the IMO has been key. Over the past five years, the IMO has provided technical assistance, environmental audits, and best practice workshops to help local ship recyclers implement better standards. Several Bangladeshi yards are now working toward achieving compliance with the Hong Kong Convention and ISO certifications.
Progress has already been observed on the ground. More than a dozen yards have completed upgrades, including impermeable floors to contain hazardous leaks, dedicated zones for gas-freeing, and better emergency response mechanisms. Worker training programs, some backed by international NGOs, have seen hundreds of employees trained in first aid, fire safety, and use of personal protective equipment.
Still, challenges remain. Many yards still operate with outdated equipment, and full compliance across the sector will take time and investment. Some critics argue that reforms have so far been concentrated among larger operators, leaving smaller yards behind. Others point to lingering enforcement issues and the need for stricter third-party oversight.
Islam acknowledged the hurdles but emphasized that the direction of change is clear. “We are on a journey. It’s not perfect, but it is progress. And we’re doing it not just because the world is watching—but because it’s the right thing to do for our people and our future.”
The transformation in Bangladesh is part of a broader global shift toward more sustainable ship recycling. Other major recycling hubs in India and Türkiye have also ramped up compliance efforts ahead of the Hong Kong Convention’s entry into force.
To explore how different regions are contributing to this global transition, the full IMO-hosted webinar featuring industry voices—including Mohammed Zahirul Islam—can be viewed at: https://lnkd.in/gKin4Kky
As the world’s fleet continues to grow older, the need for responsible ship recycling will only increase. Bangladesh’s evolving approach signals a new chapter—one that could reshape its global reputation and redefine the future of its once-controversial industry.
Author: shipping inbox
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