Extreme anarchy in e-waste management, TIB calls for concerted action
Photo Collected
Electronic waste (e-waste) management in Bangladesh currently suffers from extreme policy weakness and practical anarchy. Expressing such concern, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) has given 12 point recommendations to resolve the chaos in this sector.
This concern was expressed while presenting the recently published research report titled ‘E-Waste Management in Bangladesh: Challenges of Good Governance and Ways of Transition’ at a stakeholder seminar organized in Chittagong on Thursday. A press release of TIB informed that this seminar was organized in collaboration with Conscious Citizen Committee (SANAK), Chittagong.
বিজ্ঞাপন
According to this research report published on December 30, 2025, the Hazardous Waste (E-Waste) Management Rules, 2021 for e-waste management in Bangladesh have defined the responsibilities of various stakeholders, but there is a lack of implementation and effective initiatives. None of the e-waste collection centers, fund formation, public awareness programs implemented by electronic equipment manufacturers and importers. Even Chittagong has no policy on the sale or use of old electronic equipment from shipwrecks. No plan has been adopted so far to manage e-waste generated from electric vehicles, solar panels, battery powered toys, drones etc.
Abdullah Zahid Osmani, research associate presented the detailed information and recommendations of the research report in the seminar. The presentation revealed that currently around 97 percent of the total e-waste generated in the country is being processed in the informal sector in an environmentally harmful manner without any administrative oversight, while only 3 percent of the waste comes under formal and safe recycling.
বিজ্ঞাপন
TIB says that even though the amount of toxic e-waste generated from used electronic products in the country is increasing at an alarming rate, there is a policy deadlock and a severe lack of good governance in its proper management. Among the TIB’s 12-point recommendations to curb the anarchy are curbing illegal imports and exports through strict enforcement of e-waste regulations and the Basel Convention; Strengthening the capacity of regulatory agencies as well as curbing corruption by digitizing the clearance and registration process; To ensure transparency of information by launching a ‘one-stop’ service in collaboration with BTRC and Department of Environment and to rapidly formulate a long-term ‘e-waste roadmap’ to deal with waste from solar panels and electric vehicles.
TIB Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman, highlighting the need for coordinated initiatives of public-private partners to mitigate the risk of e-waste, said, ‘Not only in Bangladesh, but globally, the progress in e-waste management is far behind the need. Less than a quarter of the amount of e-waste generated globally is properly managed or recycled. To get out of this crisis, we must not only be aware.
Iftekharuzzaman said, ‘Awareness is definitely necessary, but there is no chance to avoid the responsibility of those who are in charge of state management and institutional responsibility to implement effective policies. It is only through the right combination of these two things that we can move forward. We are hopeful that through the collective awareness and effective participation of all stakeholders, it will be possible to transform the e-waste crisis into a potential and build a safe and livable environment.’
Although the use of electronic products is essential, if the expired products are not properly managed, the country will soon face a dire crisis, Sanak Chittagong president warned. Delwar Hossain Majumder. In the seminar, he said, ‘At present, the e-waste collection process in the country is completely unregulated and its recycling is done in a very risky and informal way. As a result, severe environmental pollution is occurring and the health risks of the workers concerned are becoming extreme.
The seminar was conducted by TIB Environment and Climate Finance Department Coordinator Nabil Haque.
0%
0%
0%
0%
