Published: 11:34 PM, 26 July 2026
Finance Minister calls for 'out-of-the-box' governance
Commerce, Industries and Textiles Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir on Wednesday 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.
