Rising microplastic risks in Bangladesh: Is weak waste management behind it?
He said city corporations collect plastic but do not have the technology to recycle materials such as chip packets, bottles, or polythene
Nearly two decades after polythene bags were banned, plastic pollution in Bangladesh shows no sign of slowing — and experts warn that weak waste management is driving a silent but growing threat: microplastics.
Environmental researchers say the country's lack of proper plastic regulation, monitoring, and recycling facilities is allowing vast amounts of waste to break down into microplastics that enter rivers and seas.
Sharif Mustajib, a PhD scholar at the Australian National University researching the plastic life cycle in Bangladesh, told The Business Standard that local authorities "treat plastic like regular waste but lack the capacity to handle it."
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He said city corporations collect plastic but do not have the technology to recycle materials such as chip packets, bottles, or polythene.
Professor Shah Nawaz Chowdhury of the University of Chittagong said discarded fishing nets, known as ghost nets, are a major source of marine microplastics.
"These nets often sink to the seabed, degrade into microplastics, and enter the food chain through fish," he said.
Experts also point to gaps in enforcement. Although single-use plastics are banned in supermarkets, polythene bags and plastic packaging remain widespread.
Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said efforts are ongoing to reduce use and improve enforcement, but admitted that "overall waste management remains weak."
With microplastics now detected in fish, shellfish, and even turtles, researchers fear that continued neglect of waste management will deepen both environmental and health risks for years to come.
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.
Bangladesh is among the top ten contributors, with an estimated 25,000 tonnes of plastic waste entering the ocean each year.
The report warns that about 75-199 million tonnes of plastic are already in the ocean, threatening marine life and human health.
An estimated 92% of plastic in the ocean is microplastics, and 60% of fish caught for consumption contain microplastics, according to the report.
The 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.
As a top contributor to global plastic pollution, experts warn that without stronger regulation, improved recycling systems, and public awareness, Bangladesh's plastic crisis will only worsen—further endangering marine life and human health
