The ship-breaking yards on the Sitakunda coast in Chattogram will be reopened from tomorrow (Thursday) after discussions with senior officials of the VAT Commissionerate. Nazmul Islam, Assistant Secretary of the Bangladesh Shipbreakers and Recyclers Association (BSBRA) confirmed the matter.
The organization announced an indefinite shutdown of BSBRA-affiliated shipbreaking yards on Wednesday (9 November) at Bhatiari in Sitakunda, accusing the VAT Commissionerate of ‘socially degrading’ the operation at four shipbreaking yards during one of their raids.
The BSBRA Assistant Secretary said, “The BSBRA leaders had a meeting with the officials of the Customs Excise and VAT Commissionerate on Wednesday afternoon. It has been decided to resume work from Thursday in light of fruitful discussions there. ”
Although there are 150 yards affiliated with BSBRA on the Sitakunda coast, at present work is going on in 60 yards. About 20,000 workers work in these yards.
The raided yards are Bhatiari Steel, three units of SN Corporation, Mahinur Shipbreaking Yard, and Premier Trade Corporation.
