Dhaka: Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan announced that the government is actively working towards implementing safe, hygienic, and environmentally sound waste management practices in Bangladesh. She emphasized the adoption of advanced sorting, recycling, and material recovery systems to minimize waste, enhance occupational safety for waste workers, and modernize landfill operations through international collaboration.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Rizwana made these statements during a meeting with an expert delegation from the Sudokwon Landfill Management Corporation (SLC) of South Korea at the Bangladesh Secretariat. The discussions focused on technical cooperation to enhance Bangladesh’s waste management system and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by establishing modern sanitary landfill facilities.
The Korean delegation presented a comprehensive plan to close and rehabilitate two existing dumpsites and construct a new sanitary landfill, with support from the Korean Ministry of Environment. This initiative will be funded through a combination of Korean grant aid and a concessional loan from relevant financial institutions, according to a ministry press release.
The closure of the existing dumpsites is anticipated to take between 1 to 1.5 years, followed by a 20-year post-closure monitoring period. Korean experts suggested that the reclaimed sites could be converted into public green spaces after the initial five years, depending on land settlement.
Moreover, the delegation stressed the necessity of integrating informal waste collectors into the new waste management system to ensure safer working conditions and improve recycling outcomes. The estimated cost for closing the existing dumpsites is Taka 1.4 billion, while constructing the new sanitary landfill is projected to require an additional Taka 13 billion.
The Korean delegation urged Bangladesh to expedite formal requests and project documentation to activate the proposed financial support. They expressed a strong interest in sharing best practices from the Sudokwon Landfill, the world’s largest and most efficiently managed sanitary landfill. The delegation proposed a greenhouse gas reduction initiative by applying SLC’s proven landfill closure technologies in Bangladesh.
Chief Executive Officer of Chattogram City Corporation Sheikh Muhammad Touhidul Islam, Joint Secretary of the ministry Md. Rezaul Karim, Director of SLC Seok Ou Jung, and other senior officials from both countries attended the meeting.