Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh is under a potent threat from surging e-waste, which is generated from electronic goods and devices having serious impact on environment, human health and the economy.
Up to 90 per cent of electronic waste is illegally dumped each year taking toll on environment.
They define e-waste as emerging from electronic equipment, computers, televisions, cell-phones, products linked with power plug, batteries which have gone obsolete due to advanced technologies, changes in fashion, and style and status.
According to Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (BAPA), more than 2.5 million tonnes of e-waste are generated every year from ‘ship breaking yards’ and other electronic equipments.
Due to absence of awareness, most of the people dump the e-waste materials on land, farm land and into water bodies in unscientific manner, causing environmental hazard.
“We are relatively a poor country. But the use of electronic products is increasing gradually posing a threat to the environment and human health”, Dr Atiq Rahman, Executive Director of Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS), told The New Nation on Sunday.
He said “We are generating more e-waste than other countries given the size of our economy. We have no estimation on it either. That is why we are facing a serious threat.”
He said, the migration of the rural population to smart phones as internet connectivity expands. availability of low cost home appliances is also generating e-waste.
According to Bangladesh Mobile Phone Importers Association, sixty three million cell phones worth Tk 67 billion were imported to Bangladesh in the last 3 years.
The increased number of local electronic assembly companies, introduction of new brand of electronic products and opening of electronics retail outlets are indicators of increased consumer demand for television, household appliances and cell phones.
Bangladesh Computer Samity President Mustafa Jabbar said, e-waste management policy is available in many countries of the world, but Bangladesh till could not make a policy on the issue.
He said, they do not have exact data on how many computers are annually entering the domestic market, and how many of those are getting obsolete.
QSI Hashmi, Additional Director General (ADG) of the Department of Environment said the country have no e-waste management law. So efforts are on to make a guideline for e-waste management.
Bangladesh is under a potent threat from surging e-waste, which is generated from electronic goods and devices having serious impact on environment, human health and the economy.
Up to 90 per cent of electronic waste is illegally dumped each year taking toll on environment.
They define e-waste as emerging from electronic equipment, computers, televisions, cell-phones, products linked with power plug, batteries which have gone obsolete due to advanced technologies, changes in fashion, and style and status.
According to Bangladesh Paribesh Andolon (BAPA), more than 2.5 million tonnes of e-waste are generated every year from ‘ship breaking yards’ and other electronic equipments.
Due to absence of awareness, most of the people dump the e-waste materials on land, farm land and into water bodies in unscientific manner, causing environmental hazard.
“We are relatively a poor country. But the use of electronic products is increasing gradually posing a threat to the environment and human health”, Dr Atiq Rahman, Executive Director of Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS), told The New Nation on Sunday.
He said “We are generating more e-waste than other countries given the size of our economy. We have no estimation on it either. That is why we are facing a serious threat.”
He said, the migration of the rural population to smart phones as internet connectivity expands. availability of low cost home appliances is also generating e-waste.
According to Bangladesh Mobile Phone Importers Association, sixty three million cell phones worth Tk 67 billion were imported to Bangladesh in the last 3 years.
The increased number of local electronic assembly companies, introduction of new brand of electronic products and opening of electronics retail outlets are indicators of increased consumer demand for television, household appliances and cell phones.
Bangladesh Computer Samity President Mustafa Jabbar said, e-waste management policy is available in many countries of the world, but Bangladesh till could not make a policy on the issue.
He said, they do not have exact data on how many computers are annually entering the domestic market, and how many of those are getting obsolete.
QSI Hashmi, Additional Director General (ADG) of the Department of Environment said the country have no e-waste management law. So efforts are on to make a guideline for e-waste management.
