Dhaka: Digital rights watchdogs and experts on electronics today said Bangladesh could fetch over US$200 million from an estimated 3 million tonnes of electronic wastes annually through coordinated efforts of agencies concerned and enforcement of the existing laws. According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Musharrat Mahera of Voices for Interactive Choice and Empowerment (VOICE) highlighted during a policy dialogue in the capital that the country's electronic waste contains recoverable resources worth an estimated US$200-221 million annually. Mahera, who serves as deputy director of the digital rights-centered research group, indicated that their assessment found Bangladesh generates approximately 3 million tonnes of electronic waste each year with high recovery values. However, less than 10 percent of these e-wastes are recycled. The event, organized by VOICE along with its mother organization, the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), was titled "Electronic Waste Management in Dhaka: Reality a nd Way Forward" and held at the YWCA auditorium in the capital. During the event, it was revealed that the assessment by VOICE involved entities registered with the Department of Environment (DoE), none of which collected end-of-life electronic products during the last fiscal year, highlighting weak enforcement of the Hazardous Waste (E-Waste) Management Rules, 2021. Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Professor Dr. Rowshan Mamtaz emphasized the need for a strategic waste management system, particularly through the allocation of responsibilities within the DoE. Zakir Hossain Khan, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Change Initiative, called for a comprehensive monitoring and tracking system for electronic products and urged the private sector to adopt 'circular economy practices.' This approach focuses on reducing, reusing, and recycling to keep materials and products in use as long as possible, moving away from the traditional "take-make-waste" linear model. Tarit Kanti Biswas, a consultant on medical waste for the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), underscored the importance of primary data collection and coordinated action among all stakeholders. VOICE Executive Director Ahmed Swapan Mahmud, who chaired the event, urged the government to establish a clearer institutional framework for e-waste management to transform electronic waste into a valuable resource. The dialogue was attended by representatives from government agencies, civil society organizations, recycling companies, and the media. Electronic device producers and consumers generally attribute the growing volume of e-waste globally to rapid technological advances, planned obsolescence, and high consumer demand. As new gadgets are launched every year, older devices quickly become obsolete, and it is often cheaper to buy a new product than to repair a broken one.
