Bangladesh among top contributors to global marine plastic pollution: Report
Bangladesh ranks 9th highest ocean plastic waste polluters in 2025
Highlights:
- Bangladesh still struggles with plastic pollution despite polythene ban
- The country contributes 25,000 tonnes of ocean plastic yearly
- Weak oversight and poor waste management worsen plastic pollution
- Microplastics found in fish, humans, and marine ecosystems
- Abandoned fishing nets significantly add to marine microplastic contamination
- Stronger regulation, recycling, and awareness needed to prevent crisis
Nearly twenty years after Bangladesh banned polythene bags, the country continues to struggle with plastic waste. From market bags to food wrappers, most discarded items eventually end up in rivers and the sea, contributing to a growing global pollution crisis.
According to a report by the UK-based organisation Greenmatch, Asian countries remain the largest contributors to ocean plastic pollution, producing around 81% of total marine waste.
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Bangladesh is among the top ten contributors, with an estimated 25,000 tonnes of plastic waste entering the ocean each year.
The annual top contributors are the Philippines (360,000 tonnes), India (130,000 tonnes), Malaysia (73,000 tonnes), China (71,000 tonnes), Indonesia (56,000 tonnes), Myanmar (40,000 tonnes), Brazil (38,000 tonnes), Vietnam (28,000 tonnes), Bangladesh (25,000 tonnes), and Thailand (23,000 tonnes).
The report warns that about 75-199 million tonnes of plastic are already in the ocean, threatening marine life and human health.
Sharif Mustajib, a PhD researcher at the Australian National University who has studied Bangladesh's plastic life cycle, told The Business Standard that weak oversight is a major cause of plastic pollution in the country.
"Plastic waste reaches the sea through multiple sources. There is no accurate data, and city corporations treat plastic as regular waste without the capacity to handle it. The Department of Environment issues permits but does not monitor production or disposal. We also lack technology to recycle chip packets, bottles, or polythene," he said.
Microplastic risks rising
Around 92% of microplastics have been detected in 60% of fish consumed by humans globally, raising risks of cancer, infertility, and nervous system damage.
The Greenmatch report also noted that an average person may consume up to 211,000 microplastics annually. These particles have been detected in human lungs, hearts, and even brains.
At a workshop on plastic waste management held by the University of Chittagong earlier this year, Professor Shah Nawaz Chowdhury warned that abandoned fishing nets are a major source of marine pollution.
"Ghost nets often sink to the ocean floor, degrade into microplastics, and enter the food chain through fish. This leads to health problems such as cancer, hormonal imbalance, and infertility," he said.
According to research presented at the event, around 40,000 tonnes of plastic fishing nets are used annually by about 19,000 boats and trawlers in Bangladesh's coastal areas, with roughly 7% abandoned at sea.
Professor Shah Nawaz added, "Microplastics have been found in fish, shellfish, and even turtle stomachs. Fishermen often leave their nets in the sea, worsening pollution. Microplastics from clothing, cosmetics, and household items also enter the ocean, posing a growing threat to biodiversity."
Weak waste management behind persistent pollution
Environmental experts say that while awareness has grown, implementation remains weak.
Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan told The Business Standard that poor waste management is at the root of the problem.
"Our consumption level is high, but our management system is weak. Although polythene was banned earlier, enforcement was poor. We have now involved RAB to strengthen implementation," she said.
She added that several measures are underway, including restrictions on single-use plastics in supermarkets and Saint Martin's Island.
"Through the Climate Trust Fund, we are planning waste management projects in Dhaka's two city corporations," she said.
Despite the ban, polythene and other single-use plastics remain widespread across the country. Environmental experts say weak regulation and poor enforcement have made the ban largely ineffective.
Experts warn that without stronger regulation, improved recycling systems, and public awareness, the country's plastic crisis will only worsen—further endangering marine life and human health.
