Battery recycling framework planned
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo on Wednesday sought financial and technical support from development partners, international institutions and the private sector to tackle lead pollution, warning that effective action requires sustained investment, stronger institutions and coordinated implementation.
Bangladesh needs sustained investment in laboratory capacity, environmental monitoring and safer industrial practices to implement its national plan to reduce lead exposure, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a seminar in Dhaka, he called on development partners, international institutions and the private sector to support the country’s efforts to protect public health from lead pollution.
Pure Earth, a non-government organisation, and the Department of Environment (DoE) jointly organised the seminar, titled “Advancing to a Lead-Free Bangladesh: Scaling Solutions, Driving Youth Action”, at Pan Pacific Sonargaon hotel to mark International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2026.
Mintoo said the Cabinet approved the National Strategy and Multi-Year Action Plan for a Lead-Free Bangladesh for 2026-2035 on August 17, 2026. The strategy provides a framework for coordinated action to reduce exposure and protect vulnerable communities.
The plan sets out short-, medium- and long-term measures covering surveillance and identification, policy and regulation, monitoring and enforcement, private-sector engagement, public awareness and education, research and innovation, and coordination across sectors.
It also assigns responsibilities to relevant ministries, agencies and stakeholders to establish a common direction for implementation.
“Our task now is to turn these priorities into funded work plans, capable institutions and measurable results,” the minister said.
He said financial and technical assistance would be needed to strengthen testing and laboratory facilities, environmental monitoring, remediation, safer industrial practices and public health responses.
“We therefore seek financial and technical support from development partners, international institutions and the private sector, aligned with the national strategy,” Mintoo said.
He added that specialist expertise, technology transfer, training and research collaboration would also be important. Such assistance should strengthen national institutions and establish systems that could be maintained over the longer term.
The minister identified the development of an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) framework for the lead-acid battery industry as an important area of ongoing work.
He said the framework should clarify the responsibilities of producers, importers and other relevant actors, supporting organised collection, traceability and environmentally sound recycling.
Consultation with industry and other stakeholders would help ensure that the framework was practical, enforceable and protective of workers and surrounding communities, he added.
Mintoo said the government, under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s leadership, considered environmental protection an essential part of public welfare and sustainable development.
He cited the National Green Mission as reflecting the government’s direction through measures to protect forests and biodiversity, restore rivers and canals, and address pollution.
The minister also referred to the prime minister’s recent address to the United Nations General Assembly, in which he highlighted Bangladesh’s environmental commitments, including planting 250 million trees over five years, promoting clean and solar energy, and excavating 20,000 kilometres of canals.
“These initiatives demonstrate the importance the government places on environmental resilience and the well-being of our people,” Mintoo said.
“The same commitment must guide our response to toxic pollution. Preventing lead exposure protects children’s development, workers’ health and the ability of families to live and work in safer environments,” he said, adding that the issue was an important part of the country’s development agenda.
