BANGLADESH

Experts have suggested the government to reduce duty on import of scrap ship, cut interest rates of bank loans and provide tax holiday facilities to boost the shipbuilding industry in Bangladesh and make it globally competitive.

Speakers at a seminar titled 'The present situation of shipbuilding industry in Bangladesh' at Mukti Bhaban in the city on Saturday also urged the government to ensure development of different shipyards of the country and easy access for foreign experts.

T K Shipyard and ptbnews.com jointly organised the programme. PTB chief editor Ashish Kumar Day moderated the seminar while member secretary of Safe River Route Implementation Movement Aminur Rasul Babul readout the keynote paper.

In the paper, Babul demanded that foreign experts be given opportunities for developing shipbuilding zones in Chittagong, Munshiganj, Mongla Port and Patuakhali.

He also recommended fixing of bank loans interest rates for the industry at 10 percent from 15 percent, withdrawing the duty on import of scrapped ships and tax holiday-like facilities.

"These issues are the major problem areas for the entrepreneurs. The government should come forward to resolve them," he added.

Chief engineer of Sea Transportation Directorate and ship surveyor A K M Fakhrul Islam said currently there is a market worth around US$ 1,006 billion in the shipbuilding and ship-breaking industries globally, of which US$ 400-billion market is only for shipbuilding, each weighing 20-25 tonne.

"The major shipbuilding countries like Japan, Korea, China and the USA currently don't receive construction order of such small ships. The small and potential countries like Bangladesh can take advantage of the opportunity," Islam added.

Former director general of Water Resources Planning Organisation (WARPO) Engineer M Enamul Haque said the Sea Transportation Directorate works for the development of the industry, but the organisation is very weak for various reasons including manpower shortage.

He said that the directorate could play a role in the development of the industry if strengthened.

Senior vice-president of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport (Passenger Carriers) Owners' Association Badiuzzaman Badal and T K Group managing director Syed Manjur Hossain also spoke on the occasion.