The Ministry of Industries has imposed a four-month ban on importing scrapped ships and fined Tk 5 lakh to Khawaja Shipbreaking Yard at Sitakunda in Chattogram.
The ministry took the action after investigating an incident that left a worker dead at the yard, owned by Kabir Steel Re-Rolling Mills (KSRM).
Mohammad Taslim, 30, of Sitakunda, was critically injured while working at the shipbreaking yard on September 29. He was declared dead after being taken to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital.
In a letter issued last week, the ministry asked authorities concerned to also enforce a bar on sourcing scrapped ships locally by the yard.
The letter also suggested that an investigating officer should update the ministry about the implementation of safety measures in the yard during the four-month ban period.
Mizanur Rahman, deputy secretary (ship recycling) to the Ministry of Industries, told The Business Post that actions have been taken against the shipyard after finding various irregularities.
“Departments concerned have also been informed about the matter,” he added.
In another development, the KSRM authorities have recently renamed the yard -- Kabir Group Ship Recycling Facilities.
However, Abdullah Al Sakib Mubarrat, deputy inspector general (Chattogram Directorate) of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, said he was not aware of the change.
Since 2015, as many as 10 workers died at the Khawaja Shipbreaking Yard, the highest number of casualties in a single shipbreaking yard in the country.
The Ministry of Industries had earlier imposed bans twice on the yard.
KSRM has also set a precedent in Chattogram for VAT evasion.
On June 22, acting on a tip-off, a team of Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate raided KSRM Steel Plant Limited in the Ghoramara area of Bara Kumira in Sitakunda and seized documents along with CPU of two computers.
A probe report unveiled that the company dodged more than Tk 231 crore in value-added tax (VAT) from the government.
A case has been filed over the matter.
