|
About YPSA | Site map | Video | Photo | Contact us | Feedback
News & Events |
|||
Two workers killed in a deadly accident at the Shipbreaking Yard of Chittagong The workers are Abdul Rajjak (30) and Abdul Majed (28). Another one is severely injured in the same accident. They both were adult workers. It was known that the workers were instructed to go inside of a tank, which was full of toxic ballast water with high toxic substances. It was also known that the ships were not properly checked before ordering the workers to go inside the tanks. Some workers are saying that knowing the presence of the toxic substances in the tanks the yard authorities told them to go inside the tanks. The home district of the dead workers is Lohaghara thana, Jamalpur district. The local people informed that the dead bodies were sent to their home immediately at the very night of the accident. They managed to hide the whole accident at nigh so that no one can come to know and see the dead workers. The Gate of the yard is closed when the people informed about the accident today (Monday). The yard authorities and owners’ representatives are not telling anything about the accident and not letting any one to go inside the yards.
A report on
Go to link Daily Prothom Alo (Bangla) Newspaper report on Iron price hike and Shipbreaking business in Bangladesh Will the entire Iron market be controlled by the 22 Shipbreakers? Newspaper report : Iron rod prices jump
A report of The Daily Shupprovhat Bangladesh
An article published in Bangla in the Daily Prothom Alo 2nd inter-ministerial meeting on Shipbreaking policy Screening of the documentary film “IRON EATERS” Undeclared Syndicate of 22 Shipbreakers is Broken The undeclared syndicate of 22 shipbreakers is broken by an urgent action from the government. These shipbreakers were charged, for the recent artificial price hike of the iron in the country, in a meeting, last Friday, arranged by the investigation bureau of the government of Bangladesh. The shipbreakers were not able to give logical clarification for the charge. They were blaming each other in the meeting for the conspiracy of the recent price hike. They also admitted that they will buy scrap ship individually from now. In this circumstance, they broke the undeclared syndicate. It is explored that this syndicate were working since several years. Several months ago (28th Oct’07) the president of the BSBA wrote a letter to the international ship sellers’ agent and broker that they have formed a committee two members for buying ships. This committee was working very well on behalf of the syndicate. After buying the ships BSBA were selling the ships through tender to its members. In the tender they increased price from 50 to 100 dollar for per ton. In this way they managed to show logic for the price hike. The iron price almost doubled with in six month. The money between the actual buying price and re-sell price is saved in a bank account. The profit of this was distributed among the members equally. It is revealed that they earned 1.59 million dollar by importing 5 ships in this way. But earlier it was said by the shipbreakers the committee and the syndicate were formed to keep the iron price low. But situation is completely reverse. On the other hand, they were not supplying iron plate to the re rolling mills and saving all scrap irons in the yards. These made a big iron crisis, which is created artificially by the shipbreakers. (It can be mentioned here, in Bangladesh 80 percentages of irons are coming from the shipbreaking yards.) All these done by the syndicate of 22 shipbreakers. But the formal association, BSBA, of the owners will be remained. The association is registered by the Commerce ministry. With out their instructions the activities of the association can not be stopped. But the trend of buying ships jointly will be stopped temporarily. The members of BSBA will import ships individually from now. The Joint Force of (Police) the Government said that the shipbreakers are responsible for the recent price hike. They made the whole conspiracy for getting a huge profit. In last two month they earned 1.59 million dollar that was distribute among all of the members. So the bank account of all the members will be checked. Besides, the matter of paying 5 million taka to be a member of the BSBA also will be investigated. We urge the government to keep the pressure on the shipbreakers and take more effective actions to ensure the protection environment and shipbreaking workers’ rights. Press Conference on submitted recommendations for expected policy
YPSA program officer Muhammed Ali Shahin said `we welcome the initiatives to formulate a policy for the shipbreaking industry. But it should be complied with the existing national like Labour law, environment conservation act and international commitment like Basel convention. YPSA has been working for a long time, along with other environmental organization, media and different civil society organizations, to advocates for a public policy to ensure human rights in Shipbreaking Industry. As a result of this govt. has taken an initiative to formulate a policy for the industry. It’s an achievement of the campaign. Now the ultimate goal is to ensure a good policy that will ensure environment protection and worker’s rights and safety. M. Nasirul Houqe, Chief Reporter of The Daily Shupprovat Bangladesh, Md. Omar Kaiser, Bureau Chief of The daily Bhorer Kagoze, Md. Mamun Abdullah, Chief reporter of The Daily Prothom Alo, Shamsul Hoqe Haidary, Bureau Chief of NTV, Md. Shahidul Islam Bacchu, reporter of The Daily Star,
Md. Nazim Uddin Shamol, reporter of the Daily Independent
and many other reporters from different newspaper ware participated in the press conference. SEMINAR OF THE SECRETARIAT OF BASEL CONVENTION AT DHAKA South Asian demanded for pre-cleaning of ships in the country of export and occupational health of workers
The seminar of SBC, under UNEP, dwells on liability of shipowners at the launch of the Global Programme for Sustainable Ship Recycling and a one-day seminar, organized by Secretariat of Basel Convention (SBC), on 12-13 January 2008 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It emerged that South Asian position was quite categorical in their demand for pre-cleaning of ships in the country of export. The South Asians also demanded a liability management plan from the shipowners. The delegates also visited Chittagong ship-breaking yard. A workshop titled "IMO National Workshop on the development of the International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships" in Mumbai also happened during 7 – 10 January 2008. The civil society representatives are walked out of that IMO workshop. At both the places (India and Bangladesh) the NGOs attempted to draw the attention of the delegates towards pre-cleaning of ships in the country of export before its transboundary movement and occupational health of workers. Newspaper report of the Daily Amar Desh (Bangla). Click for details. JPEG 207 kb (Image) Petition to improve the working conditions Memorandum submitted to CTG. Dist. Commissioner
Human Chain arranged by workers on Human Rights Day
This year eight workers died in the ship breaking yards. People remember them and demand stop killing in the ship yards.
Workers’ rights and Environment friendly Shipbreaking practice demanded
Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), a non-governmental organization, organized the discussion on Ship Breaking Industry: Challenges and its Future at the National Press Club, which was attended by different NGO activists and environmentalists. The first devoted website (www.shipbreakingbd.info), of the country, on Shipbreaking is also launched that is developed by YPSA. "No environmentally hazardous ship should be allowed to enter Bangladesh in the interest of protecting our flora and fauna," Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, chairman of Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC), a think tank, said, suggesting recycling of ships through application of modern technology to save workers' lives. He pointed to the fact that continued manual ship breaking causes massive sea pollution, destruction of aquatic diversity and loss of lives in random accidents at Sitakund in Chittagong. In the keynote speech, Mohammad Ali Saheen, YPSA program officer, a little enforcement of labour law in the ship breaking industry and lack of monitoring lead to loss of human lives and damage to environment. He emphasized strict monitoring and execution of the rules with regard to ship breaking industries to ensure such industrial workers' safety and other rights. Md. Arifur Rahman, YPSA Chief Executive, Professor Sekandar Khan, president of Bangladesh Economic Association, Chittagong Chapter, Professor Dr. M. Maruf Hossain of Marine Science Department at Chittagong University, Zafrul Hasan Sharif of Manusher Jonno Foundation and Sahidul Haque Moni of Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon, YPSA webmaster Mr. Abdulla Al Sakir also spoke on the occasion. Round Table Conference In spite of existing labour laws, Shipbreaking workers are deprived from their rights in various ways. Without coordination of all the concerned departments of the government, there will not be any development in the Shipbreaking sector. Speakers said in a round table conference on 4 th October at Press club auditorium, Chittagong . YPSA and The daily Supprovat Bangladessh jointly arranged the round table conference on the present status and expectations of Shipbreaking in Bangladesh . Abdullah Al Shakir, Associate Program Officer, YPSA gave opening speech to the seminar. The meeting presided by Dr. Shafiqe Haider Chowdhury, member of Forum for Plan Chittagong. Muhammed Ali Shahin, Program Officer, YPSA presented a concept paper on the overall condition of the Shipbreaking industry and gave some recommendations from the expected policy. Ships should be pre -cleaned before its import. Prior Informed Consent is mandatory, said Mr. Shahin in his concept paper. He also added that workers rights only can be achieved through the enforcement of the existing labor laws 2006. Case should be filed against those who are violating the existing laws related with environment and workers' rights. Mr. Abdul Khalek, Join secretary of the Department of Labor said that the workers are deprived from minimum wages. It is possible to exploit the workers by the owners' side as the workers are not organized. Owners are always trying to establish that the shipbreaking is not an industry. They do not provide job facilities to the workers by explaining these limitations. Mr. Abdul Khalek also added that if five people works at a time in a place, normally it can be considered as a factory. So labor laws should be enforced, without any obstruction, to the shipbreaking yard. Mr. Khairul Bashar, Inspector of Department of Explosive said that ships are certified as Gas-free for a specific period of time by the explosive department. But after a certain period of time the gas can be formed again. Knowing that if any one goes for cutting with a flame, then explosion can be occurred. In that case Department of Explosive will not responsible. All the concerned persons including owners and workers should be aware about this gas reformation. Mr. Tabaruk Ullah, former Join Secretary of the department of labor said that we are disappointed that ship breakers always absent at all the seminars. Ship owners are not agreed to cooperate NGO's. We are not getting their views and comments. Mr. Tajminur, Assistant Director of Department of Environment said according to environmental act, clearance certificate has to be taken from the department of environment for importing and cutting of ships. And the Greenbook of the ship, in which all name and quantities of hazardous waste on board are mentioned, is not provided to the importing countries. For this we don't know what kind of waste is containing on board. Our recommendation is to make this Greenbook or Inventory of waste should be mandatory in case of importing ships for breaking. Mr. Amir Nasrullah, Assistant professor, Department of Public Administrator, University of Chittagong said Shipbreaking is a floating iron mine. Regardless of its demanding industry, lack of intended policy, workers are not getting advantages. Besides these speakers, Md. Nasirul Houqe Chief Reporter of The Daily Suprovat Bangladesh , Mr. Nazim Uddin Shamol senior reporter of The Daily Independent, Mr. Abu Sayeed Muhammad Kamruzzaman National Project Coordinator, SAFREC project, ILO Ctg. Mr. Shuvash Candra Lala, President of BLAST gave valuable recommendations on expected policy at the conference. Government steps forward to a Policy for the
|
YPSA organized a press conference, on 30 January at Chittagong Press Club, on the submitted recommendations for expected Shipbreaking Policy. 
Workers are submitting memorandum, to DC Office, Chittagong, that included the demands of ensuring workers' rights, safety and pollution free working condition 
Remembrance Day ( 12 Dec.'07 ) observed to remember the dead workers those died in this year in the ship yard. It's not any formal declared day. YPSA arranged different events every year on this day and also publish the list of dead workers. This year YPSA arranged Candle light vigil program, on 12 December at 5 pm in front of the Press Club, Chittagong , where hundred of people joined and demand to stop killing in the ship breaking yards. Since 2005 December the day is being followed by YPSA. It can be mentioned On 12 December 2005 the joint report of YPSA, FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights), Greenpeace to the conference of Joint Working Group of ILO, IMO, Basel Convention Secretariat. For that YPSA took this day as a symbolic day to remember the dead workers die every year and demand to stop the accidents in the shipbreaking yards. According to the available information, this year eight workers died in the ship breaking yards.
Incorporation of clauses in the proposed national policy on shipbreaking to ensure the issue of pre-cleaning of ships before breaking, establishing environmentally sound management of breaking ships, compliance with the international commitments, principle of ensuring human rights and saving environment, speakers said in a meeting in Dhaka.
Muhammed Ali, Program Officer, YPSA and the NGO Platform on Shipbreaking, Bangladesh, drew attention to the human and environmental costs of ship recycling which had led to thousands of deaths due to poor working conditions.
|
|
|