Department of Environment (DoE) on Thursday fined three people Tk 23 lakh for not following proper method in scrapping a grounded ship off the coast of Bhatiary in Sitakunda upazila in Chattogram.

Mofidul Islam, director of DoE Chattogram Zone, gave the order after a hearing in this regard.

Those fined by the DoE are Giash Uddin, Mahbub, and Kamal Uddin.

Mofidul Islam said, “The three who claimed ownership of the ship were fined for not following proper method while breaking the ship.”

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However, no representative of Bhatiary ship breaking yard came although a notice was issued, said the DoE director.

“Another notice will be issued and further steps will be taken in this regard if they don’t appear before the DoE authorities,” he added.

As license of the ship breaking yard where the ship named Royal Bird was being broken was not renewed many reports were published in different local and national dailies questioning the method and safety issues.

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On Monday, some senior officials of DoE visited the yard and found irregularities in scrapping the ship.