Since 2000, Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) has been working to improve working conditions, improve workers’ skills, promote welfare and combat environmental pollution in Sitakunda’s shipbreaking yards.

Along the way, they faced challenges, especially conflicts between yard owners and workers. Despite these obstacles, YPSA has made significant progress over the past two decades, developing a skilled workforce, improving worker safety and reducing accidents.

In this interview with The Business Standard, Muhammed Ali Shahin, Deputy Director of YPSA and focal person for its Shipbreaking campaign, reflects on the organisation’s journey, the challenges it has had to overcome, its achievements and its goals for the future.

What measures has YPSA taken to ensure safe working conditions and address environmental risks in the Chattogram ship breaking industry?

We started working in Sitakunda in 2000, focusing on raising awareness about worker safety and creating a safer work environment. At that time, we collected data on injuries, fatalities and environmental damage and shared reports of findings with government bodies and site owners.

Through these efforts, we conducted eight research studies that highlighted various issues in the yards. Two of our publications—End of Life Ships and Childbreaking Yards—have gained widespread recognition and introduced us to the international community as a credible resource for the shipbreaking industry.

From the beginning, YPSA acted as a pressure group advocating for labor rights and environmental protection. In addition to our support, we trained workers to improve their skills and safety awareness.

We have recently introduced on-the-job training programs to prepare workers for more specialized roles. Our goal is to contribute to building a green ship recycling industry and we continue our efforts in this direction.

How have working conditions and compensation improved over the years? Has the employee death rate decreased?

In the early days, safety awareness was almost non-existent and accidents were very common. In the past decade, at least 142 workers have lost their lives in ship-breaking yards.

However, the situation has improved and mortality rates have dropped significantly. Today, yard owners, laborers and foremen are much more safety conscious. While some courts strictly adhere to all safety protocols, others still have room for improvement.

It’s not just about compliance, it’s about creating an industry that values ​​human lives and the planet equally.

Muhammed Ali Shahin, Deputy Director of YPSA and focal person for the ship destruction campaign

Previously, we saw deaths and injuries almost every week. Now, accidents are rare. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of YPSA, other NGOs, international organizations and government agencies, safety standards have improved.

However, the occasional accident still occurs and our ultimate goal remains zero fatalities on all yards.

In the past, the compensation for the death of a worker was around 1 lakh. Now, under the labor law, families get Tk2 lakh, with an additional Tk5 lakh provided by the district authorities – making a total of Tk7 ​​lakh per case.

The industry has come a long way, but there is still work to do. Our efforts to make construction sites fully safe and sustainable continue.

What challenges did you face while implementing these initiatives and how did you overcome them?

Initially, yard owners saw us as adversaries and believed that our efforts to improve safety were against their interests. But over time, both owners and workers realized that our purpose was to promote compliance, safety and welfare, not opposition.

Although the situation has improved, the industry is still not entirely safe and not all sites are fully compliant. There is still work to do.

We hope that in the future, when accidents and pollution will be reduced to zero, we can say with confidence that the industry has achieved full safety. Until then, we will continue to strive for progress.

What are the key challenges facing the shipbreaking industry today and how can they be addressed?

According to government regulations, international laws and the Hong Kong Convention, all shipyards must become “green shipyards” by June 2025. If they do not meet these standards, they will no longer be allowed to import ships. This is a significant challenge for the industry.

In addition, the post-Covid dollar crisis has created financial pressure for investors, making it difficult to implement the necessary changes. The government needs to take steps to support the industry during this transition.

There is also an urgent need to extend the deadline for obtaining green yard certification. If the yard owners’ association collectively appeals for an extension, the government could consider it. A government decision is essential to facilitate this transition.

YPSA and other organizations remain committed to helping the shipbreaking industry evolve into a safer and greener sector. We are determined to ensure that progress continues and that the industry reaches its full potential.

This interview highlights the journey of Bangladesh’s ship-breaking industry – the challenges, improvements and the way forward – through the lens of YPSA’s ongoing efforts. The focus remains clear: to achieve zero deaths, zero pollution and a safer and more sustainable future for all stakeholders involved.