Coronavirus: Ship import suspended till April 7
The Ministry of Industries has taken this decision considering the health safety of 35,000 employees and workers in the ship breaking industrial area in Sitakunda
Ship imports for the ship breaking industry have been suspended from today till April 7 to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
No new no objection certificate (NOC) is being provided for the time being. Besides, five imported vessels have been put under quarantine today. The ships will be in deep sea for the next two weeks.
The Ministry of Industries has taken this decision considering the health safety of 35,000 officers, employees and workers in the ship breaking industrial area in Sitakunda, Chattogram. The ministry has sent a letter to the Bangladesh Ship Breakers and Recyclers Association in this regard.
The industries ministry has also directed the ship breakers' association to take necessary health protective measures, including raising awareness among officials, employees and workers in the ship breaking industrial area to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus.
The protective measures include controlling external access to the workplace, using hand sanitiser and taking body temperature before entering the workplace, wearing face mask and hand glove, refraining from work for cold and coughs, washing hands frequently, not moving to places other than office and home, not seating together at the canteen etc.
The directives were given as per health regulations of the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research (IEDCR).