Photo : PID

DHAKA, July 22, 2026 (BSS) - Commerce, Industries and Textiles Minister 
Khandakar Abdul Muktadir today highlighted the strategic importance of 
Bangladesh's ship recycling industry, saying the sector plays a vital role in 
the national economy and has immense potential for generating employment and 
supporting industrial growth.

Speaking at a meeting with a delegation of the Japan International 
Cooperation Agency (JICA) at the Ministry of Commerce, he said the government 
is working to transform the industry into a safe, modern and environmentally 
sustainable sector capable of meeting international standards.

Muktadir, also the Jute Minister, said the ship recycling sector has emerged 
as one of the country's key industrial activities by supplying raw materials 
to steel and other downstream industries while creating jobs for thousands of 
workers.

To ensure the sector's long-term sustainability, he said the government has 
prioritised four key areas: strengthening workplace safety and security, 
protecting the environment, introducing modern technologies and simplifying 
regulatory approval procedures.

The minister said the ongoing JICA Ship Recycling Project is supporting these 
efforts through capacity assessments of ship recycling yards, training for 
industry stakeholders, development of modern operational guidelines, 
certification of Ship Recycling Facility Plans (SRFPs) and improvement of the 
approval process for Ship Recycling Plans (SRPs).

He also said the government is introducing a One-Stop Service online platform 
to reduce administrative complexities and facilitate faster approval of 
industry-related services.

Highlighting the government's broader industrial vision, Muktadir said local 
small and medium enterprises (SMEs) would be provided with technology, 
training and skill development to enable them to join global industrial 
supply chains.

"A key objective of the government is to enhance the capacity of local 
entrepreneurs and integrate them into the international industrial system. 
With JICA's cooperation, Bangladesh's industrial sector will become 
significantly more competitive," he said.

JICA Chief Representative in Bangladesh Takahashi Junko reaffirmed the 
agency's commitment to supporting Bangladesh in developing a ship recycling 
industry that complies with international environmental and occupational 
safety standards.

Senior officials, including Bangladesh Ship Recycling Board Director General 
ASM Shafiul Alam Talukdar and Commerce Ministry Joint Secretary Mahbuba 
Khatun Minu, attended the meeting.