Dhaka, 11 September:
The Ministry of Environment has started taking steps to implement the recommendation of the
21st meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Environment, Forest and
Climate Change to shut down the Savar Tannery Complex. The Chairman of Bangladesh Small and
Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) has been requested to send a clear explanation by September
20, 2021 as to why the Savar Tannery Complex will not be shut down  as per the recommendation of
the parliamentary committee .
The request was made in a letter signed by the Director General of the Department of
Environment Md. Ashraf Uddin on 9 September.
It is to be noted that as per the decision of the 21st meeting of the Parliamentary Standing
Committee on the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change held 23rd August, it was
recommended to shut down the tannery complex run by the Ministry of Industries and BSCIC as a
matter of urgency as the waste management was not done properly. In the future, if the complex is
operated in accordance with the provisions of the law, the issue of reopening may be considered.  It is
recommended to collect maximum compensation through fines till the closure.