Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) Mirza Tasadduq Hossain Beg and UNDP Resident Representative Jorgen Lissner signed the 4-year project on behalf of respective sides yesterday.

The project titled "Safe and Environment-friendly Ship-Recycling" will bring together all parties concerned including relevant ministries, Navy, importers, Ship-Breakers Association, survey companies, banks, traders, and workers in an effort to improve the conditions of the labour force involved and to reduce environmental pollution.

It will also seek a comprehensive approach based on policy dialogue, safety training and public awareness to align current work practices in the ship-breaking industry with international and national rules and regulation.

`Ship-breaking' or `ship-recycling' industry has been developed in four Asian countries including Bangladesh where the most of the world's big sea faring ships are dismantled and recycled at the end of their lives.

The industry is the main source of iron and steel for Bangladesh and provides employment for thousands.

At present 32 ship-breaking yards are operating regularly on the beaches north of Chittagong where around 60-80 large ocean-going ships are dismantled and recycled every year.