Friday, May 03, 2024
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter D Haas on Tuesday visited the PHP Ship Breaking and Recycling Yard – located in Shitalpur area of Sitakunda – with the goal to observe the consistent development and progress in the country’s ship breaking industry.
Haas expressed his satisfaction over the significant and visible positive changes in Bangladesh’s ship breaking industry, adding that they will continue to provide support to this sector. Haas also reiterated US support for this industry, and assured of every kind of cooperation possible.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter D Haas arrived at the PHP Yard on Tuesday morning. He was greeted by PHP Ship Breaking and Recycling Yard Managing Director Zahirul Islam Rinku.
Haas then inspected different parts of the yard for around an hour. After checking out several infrastructures built inside the yard, especially the first aid centre, and safety measures implemented to protect workers from accidents at the workplace, Haas expressed his satisfaction.
Terming PHP Shipyard a model establishment, Haas said, “This is my first visit to the yard. Among all the yards I checked out on Google, this ship yard is perhaps the best. I praise the overall environment of this ship yard.
“If other yards are built similarly, it will change the negative perception the developed world has for this industry. The international community is having positive discussions regarding Bangladesh’s shipyards, and this will put an end to any misunderstandings in the coming days.”
The PHP Ship Yard has already been visited by envoys from a number of countries, including from France, Netherlands, Malaysia, Germany, and South Korea.
Besides, a strong delegation from the European Union, led by the then EU Parliament Member Jean Lambert, had visited this ship yard as well.
Providing more details, PHP Ship Breaking Yard Managing Director Zahirul Islam Rinku Zahirul Islam Rinku said, “We want to change the international community’s perception on ship breaking yards, and we are working towards this goal.
“Compared to previous times, the yards have witnessed a lot of positive changes.”
He continued, “We are inviting representatives from different western nations to the PHP Ship Breaking yard. Envoys from different countries are visiting us as part of this initiative. They have expressed their satisfaction regarding the overall situation in our yard.”
It should be noted that a bilateral deal between the Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association (BSBRA) and India-based firm Creative Consultant is being implemented in a bid to improve the quality of services.
