Environment adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan has called for stricter enforcement of environmental laws and greater accountability in the country’s shipbreaking industry.

Speaking at a workshop on the ‘National Regulatory Framework for Ship Recycling and Hazardous Waste Management in Bangladesh’ held on Sunday at a city hotel, she also warned that without urgent reforms, Bangladesh risks becoming a global dumping ground for hazardous waste.

Highlighting the human and environmental costs of the industry, Rizwana stressed that shipbreaking must not continue at the expense of human lives and urged authorities to strictly enforce High Court directives prohibiting shipbreaking in tidal beach areas, asserting that these rulings must be integrated into national regulations.

‘We cannot justify keeping this industry alive if it fails to meet global safety and environmental standards,’ she said, expressing her willingness to work with the Ministry of Industry to develop regulations that protect Bangladesh from becoming a toxic waste dump and safeguard workers from unknown hazards.

‘The directives of the High Court, upheld by the Supreme Court, cannot and must not be ignored,’ she stated.

Industries Ministry Advisor Adilur Rahman Khan, its Secretary Zakia Sultana, and Norwegian Ambassador to Dhaka Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen, among others, also spoke at the event.

Drawing attention to the dangerous working conditions in the shipbreaking industry, where workers are often exposed to life-threatening hazards without adequate protection, Rizwana compared shipbreaking to Bangladesh’s garment sector, pointing out a stark difference.

‘In the garment industry, foreign buyers ensure that labour standards are met. In contrast, shipbreaking owners evade their legal responsibility for cleaning up hazardous waste, sending ships to Bangladesh under false certifications.’ She emphasised that the issue is not merely about ships carrying waste, but about the toxic materials embedded in their structures—materials that Bangladesh lacks the capacity to safely manage.

She also questioned why Bangladesh, which sources most of its iron demand through billets, must continue relying on shipbreaking for a fraction of its iron supply despite the severe risks involved.

Criticising weak regulations that allow hazardous waste to be dumped in Bangladesh, she stated, ‘The effectiveness of legislation in global trade depends on how all stakeholders fulfil their roles. If exporters and ship owners do not adhere to international regulations, expecting a country with weak enforcement like Bangladesh to manage the consequences is unrealistic.’

She revealed instances where fraudulent waste declarations enabled illegal imports, with a single company issuing certificates from four different countries on the same day to facilitate shipbreaking in Bangladesh.

Rizwana further underscored the need for credible legal regulations on waste declarations, warning that workers dismantling these ships remain unaware of the toxic risks they face.

Shipbreaking yards should display signboards warning workers of cancer risks in multiple languages.

Emphasising the ‘polluter pays’ principle, she argued that waste generators must be held responsible for their disposal.

However, she noted that instead of enforcing accountability, the industry is being ‘greenwashed’ and legitimised under weak regulations.

Most vessels arriving in Bangladesh originate from small island states, although they were originally owned by European companies. She added that before being sent here, these companies change the ships’ registration in a practice known as ‘flag of convenience,’ allowing them to evade legal responsibility.

‘Would any European country allow shipbreaking on their own beaches? Why should the standards be different when workers’ lives are at stake?’ she asked.

She also criticised the Industries Ministry for permitting shipbreaking despite ongoing environmental violations and revealed that certain yards continue to operate without valid environmental clearance.

‘There are international laws holding polluters accountable, but in Bangladesh, ship owners and breakers control the narrative, often using regulatory loopholes to disguise hazardous practices,’ she added.

Bangladesh must not become a dumping ground for hazardous waste, she concluded, adding, ‘We cannot allow an industry to thrive at the cost of human lives. Any legal framework for shipbreaking must align with global safety and environmental standards.’