The Department of Environment (DoE) fined the authorities of Ferdous Steel Ship Recycling Industries BDT 500,000 for continuing ship-breaking activities in Sitakunda, Chattogram, even after the expiration of their environmental clearance. The directive was issued on Wednesday during a hearing held at the DoE.

The yard has been ordered to suspend all ship-cutting operations until its environmental clearance certificate is officially renewed. Two officials of the establishment represented the company at the hearing.

Srirup Majumder, assistant director of the DoE’s Chattogram Regional Office, told Bonik Barta that Ferdous Steel Ship Recycling Industries was fined BDT 500,000 under various sections of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995, for operating past the expiration date of its environmental clearance, which lapsed on August 12. Despite the expiration, the yard was actively dismantling an old vessel named MT Rasi.

He further noted that while annual renewal of environmental clearance is mandatory, the company failed to comply. The directive explicitly mandates that the cutting of MT Rasi remain suspended until the clearance is renewed. If the fine is not deposited into the government treasury within the next seven working days, legal proceedings will be initiated against the establishment in accordance with the rules.

Mentioning that provisions for appeal exist against the fine and the suspension order, Srirup Majumder added that under Section 14 of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (Amended 2010) and Rule 27 of the Environment Conservation Rules, 2023, an appeal can be filed before the Chairman of the Appellate Authority and Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. In such cases, 25 percent of the imposed compensation must be paid via a treasury challan or A-challan, and the appeal must be submitted within 30 days.