Interim govt's Basel Convention stance creates uncertainty for ship recycling industry, shipbreakers say
Basel Convention was designed primarily for hazardous waste management, while the Hong Kong Convention was specifically developed for ship recycling
Highlights
- Basel Convention focuses on control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal
- Hong Kong Convention focuses on the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships
- Bangladesh shipbreakers don't want Basel Convention to apply
- Interim govt wanted both conventions to apply
- Bangladesh ratified Hong Kong Convention in 2023
- Basel Convention is managed by United Nations Environment Programme
- Hong Kong Convention is managed by International Maritime Organization, ILO
A policy position submitted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to the Basel Convention Secretariat during the tenure of the interim government has created uncertainty for Bangladesh's ship recycling industry, putting more than Tk3,000 crore in investments at risk and prompting calls for its withdrawal.
The submission, sent on 15 November 2025, argued that the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC) cannot replace Basel Convention procedures governing the transboundary movement of end-of-life ships. Instead, it proposed that both conventions should continue to apply simultaneously.
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Basel Convention was designed primarily for hazardous waste management, while the Hong Kong Convention was specifically developed for ship recycling.
Shipbreaking is considered one of the world's most dangerous and environmentally destructive industries. The toxic waste from Bangladesh's shipbreaking industry is known to have seriously impacted the shorelines of Chattogram's Sitakunda. The industry later took a greener turn and became safer.
Industry leaders fear the move could make ship recycling more costly and complicated, undermining Bangladesh's competitiveness just as it has emerged as a global leader in HKC-compliant recycling. The Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association (BSBRA) has formally urged the government to withdraw the position.
Bangladesh ratified the Hong Kong Convention in 2023, and the convention entered into force globally in June 2025. Over the past decade, recyclers have invested heavily in environmental safeguards, hazardous waste management systems, worker safety infrastructure and training facilities to comply with the convention.
The country now has around 30 HKC-compliant yards, including 17 facilities authorised by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in January this year, the highest number of authorised yards in the world.
Meanwhile, officials at the industries ministry, the focal ministry for the sector, alleged that the position paper was prepared under the direction of former environment adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan and submitted to the Basel Secretariat without consulting the ministry. Environment ministry officials acknowledged concerns over the process and said the government's position is currently under review.
Industry seeks withdrawal
In a letter sent to the environment secretary on 10 May, ship breakers' association administrator Abu Safayat Muhammad Shahe Dul Islam requested the government to submit an Article 11 notification under the Basel Convention recognising the Hong Kong Convention as the primary framework for authorised ship recycling facilities.
"The overlapping and sometimes conflicting requirements are creating serious legal uncertainty and discouraging investment in upgraded recycling facilities at a time when the global shipping industry requires expanded compliant recycling capacity," the letter stated.
Industry leaders say maintaining parallel compliance under both conventions could discourage shipowners from sending vessels to Bangladesh and divert business to competing recycling destinations.
Former ship breakers' association vice-president Zahirul Islam Rinku warned that prolonged uncertainty could erode Bangladesh's market position.
"Bangladesh was once the global leader in jute, but policy mistakes allowed competitors to take over. We should not repeat the same experience in ship recycling," he said.
Maritime expert Captain Anam Chowdhury said the Basel Convention was designed primarily for hazardous waste management, while the Hong Kong Convention was specifically developed for ship recycling.
"The Hong Kong Convention is the outcome of decades of negotiations involving shipowners, recycling nations, environmental experts and regulators. Bangladesh has already invested heavily to comply with that framework," he said.
Industries ministry raises concerns
Industries Secretary Md Obaidur Rahman said his ministry had not been consulted before the submission was made.
"The former environment adviser prepared the paper without discussing the matter with us. Ship recycling is a promising industry for Bangladesh, and if concerns had been raised through proper consultation, we could have taken appropriate measures to address them," he told The Business Standard.
"We do not want environmental degradation, but we also want the ship recycling industry to develop in a sustainable manner. Any international commitment should consider both environmental protection and industrial development."
Environment and climate change ministry Secretary Mohammed Rayhan Kaosar confirmed receiving the industry's concerns.
"We have already held discussions with the stakeholders and their concerns are being taken into consideration," he told The Business Standard.
"We expect to reach a decision soon. Our objective is to safeguard this promising industry while ensuring that environmental protection is not compromised."
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, former adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and current chief executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela), did not respond to calls, SMS or WhatsApp text seeking comment.
