It is internationally recognised that such
oil-tankers like North Sea Producer carry NORM (Natural Occurring Radioactive
Materials)
 |
An overhead view of the North Sea Producer
beached at a shipbreaking yard in Sitakunda
|
The Supreme Court has imposed a ban on
wrecking or removing parts of a radioactive-waste carrying ship named North Sea
Producer.
A two-member bench of the High Court division
headed by Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and Justice Md Selim announced the verdict
on Monday.
Chittagong’s Shitakunda-based ship breaking
industry MS Janata Steel Corporation imported the ship for wrecking in August
2016. According to NGO Shipbreaking Platform, a Brussels-based international
environmental agency, the ship is likely to be carrying a plenty of toxic
wastes and a serious accident may take place during the shipwreck. The breaking
of the ship off the coast of our country might pose a severe threat to health
and environment.
It is internationally recognised that such
oil-tankers like North Sea Producer carry NORM (Natural Occurring Radioactive
Materials) including asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), ozone-depleting
substances (ODS), led, mercury, chromium, zinc and other radioactive
substances.
Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association
(BELA) filed a public interest litigation demanding a ban on the import,
coasting and wreck of North Sea producer as the Janata Steel Corporation
imported the ship violating country’s conventional law and the order of the
court.
After the primary hearing on June 8, the
court ordered Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Bangladesh Atomic Energy
Regulatory Authority and mega port initiative of Bangladesh Customs to submit a
report within 10 weeks about the radioactivity of the ship.
Moreover, the court issued a rule asking why
the previously issued clearances in favour of importing the vessel would not be
declared illegal. It issued another rule asking the importer that why it should
not appoint a foreign expert to ensure the safe wrecking of the ship.
Leading environmental lawyer Syeda Rizwana
Hasan has been arguing the case in favour of BELA. Senior lawyer Barrister
Rokonuddin Mahmud, Ehsanul Karim and Momtaz Uddin Mehedi participated the
hearing from the defendant’s side.
Source:
Dhaka
tribune. 09 October 2017
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