CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh - The sprawling shipbreaking yards along Chittagong's coast, where the majority of the world's maritime giants meet their end, are under renewed scrutiny as new regulations loom on the horizon. However, industry experts and workers alike express skepticism about the potential for meaningful change in this hazardous industry [1][2].

Mizan Hossain, a 31-year-old shipbreaker, exemplifies the human cost of the current practices. "I can't get up in the morning," Hossain told AFP, describing the aftermath of a 10-meter fall that crushed his back while working without a harness [1][2][3]. His story is not unique in Chittagong, where workers routinely face life-threatening conditions.

The shipbreaking industry in Chittagong employs between 20,000 and 30,000 people directly or indirectly [1][4]. However, the lack of adherence to international safety and environmental standards has led to numerous accidents and long-term health issues for workers [2][3].

Many of these workers, like Hossain, have been involved in ship dismantling since childhood, operating without proper protection or insurance [1][2][3]. The prevalence of such practices underscores the deeply entrenched nature of the industry's problems.

While new regulations are on the horizon, there is widespread skepticism about their potential impact. The industry's economic importance to the region, coupled with lax enforcement of existing rules, has historically made meaningful change difficult to implement [1][2].

As the global maritime industry grapples with the environmental and human rights implications of ship recycling, all eyes are on Chittagong. The coming months will reveal whether new regulations can bring about the desperately needed improvements in worker safety and environmental protection, or if the status quo will persist in this vital but deadly industry.