A legal row between Bangladeshi shipbreaker PHP Family and environmental group NGO Shipbreaking Platform could be heading for the courts.
As reported earlier, PHP’s lawyers had written to the Brussels-based group demanding it retract what PHP has alleged were “defamatory” press releases about safety and environmental issues at its yard, and that it issue an apology.
Issued in December last year, NGO Shipbreaking’s press releases criticised PHP’s certification of compliance with the Hong Kong Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships by Italian classification society Rina.
Another press release catalogued injuries and fatalities at shipbreaking yards in Bangladesh, which included the deaths of two yard workers, both called Harun Rashid, at the PHP yard.
Since receiving PHP’s letter, NGO Shipbreaking has amended its press releases to include a statement from PHP explaining the two deaths. Contrary to NGO Shipbreaking’s earlier press releases, PHP says the workers died in accidents unrelated to its shipbreaking activities.
However, PHP is not satisfied with the measures NGO Shipbreaking has made to date, saying they fall short of its original request.
PHP has now called on NGO Shipbreaking to withdraw all defamatory statements, publish a “prominent” public apology and for NGO Shipbreaking to delete any defamatory material related to PHP [from its records].
PHP also set a NGO Shipbuilding a deadline of 11 February to comply.
NGO Shipbreaking has since written to PHP defending its statements, claiming they are legally covered by Belguim’s constitution that seeks to protect the freedom of the press.
But with the PHP deadline now passed, and its outstanding demands unmet by NGO Shipbreaking, the shipbreaker is now considering court action.
A Bangaldesh law firm representing PHP has said it would recommend the shipbreaker “commence taking steps toward the swift issue of legal proceedings without further notice”, if the deadline was missed.
PHP managing director Zahirul Islam said he is now discussing his legal options with European lawyers to bring a libel case against NGO Shipbreaking Platform.
