150,000 Abandoned EVMs Raise E-Waste Concerns

Around 150,000 discarded electronic voting machines (EVMs) lying across 41 districts are raising environmental and public-health concerns in Bangladesh. Public money continues to be spent on storing the machines, but there is no clear framework defining ownership, management or disposal responsibilities. Meanwhile, much of the country’s electronic waste is collected and handled by informal workers, often without adequate recognition or protection from occupational health risks.

These concerns were raised by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman at a seminar titled “Good Governance in E-Waste Management in Bangladesh: Challenges and Opportunities” at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka on Wednesday, October 14. Dr Md Saimum Parvez, the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, attended as the chief guest.

Storage Costs and Unclear Responsibilities

Iftekharuzzaman said Election Commission data showed that approximately 150,000 EVMs remained unused or discarded across 41 districts. There was no clear direction on who owned the machines or which authority should manage and dispose of them. Rent also continued to be paid for the premises where they were stored.

He identified policy weaknesses, poor enforcement, inadequate information and a lack of coordination among government agencies as major obstacles to effective e-waste management.

Although Bangladesh introduced the Hazardous Waste (E-Waste) Management Rules in 2021, he said the requirements were not being properly implemented because of gaps in institutional capacity and awareness.

Informal Collection and Health Risks

According to the TIB executive director, informal-sector workers collect more than 90% of the country’s e-waste. Yet they lack adequate formal recognition and protection against occupational health hazards.

Improper separation and processing of hazardous electronic components can cause environmental pollution and long-term health problems. At the same time, inadequate formal recycling systems prevent Bangladesh from recovering valuable metals and turning discarded electronics into an economic resource.

Iftekharuzzaman also called for policies addressing solar-panel waste before the panels reach the end of their useful lives. He said waste from batteries, electric vehicles and other electronic equipment should likewise be included in long-term management plans.

Turning E-Waste into Economic Value

Chief guest Dr Md Saimum Parvez said Bangladesh was losing opportunities to recover valuable metals and generate potential revenue because electronic waste was not being properly processed.

He said initiatives were under way to establish e-waste management centres at divisional and district levels. Discussions were also taking place with domestic entrepreneurs and foreign investors about processing household e-waste into intermediate products for export.

He said the government would prioritise the collection and processing of domestically generated waste rather than importing hazardous e-waste, while following the requirements of the Basel Convention.

Parvez also stressed the “3R” approach—reduce, reuse and recycle—and called for effective policies covering waste from smartphones, batteries, electric vehicles and other electronic products. He said sustainable e-waste management would require coordinated action by the government, private sector, entrepreneurs and experts.

App and Satellite Monitoring for Tree Planting

On technology-driven environmental management, Parvez said the government planned to plant 250 million trees over the next five years. A tree-monitoring application and satellite imaging were being considered to track the survival of planted trees.

If implemented, these tools could help monitor where trees had been planted and how green cover was changing over time, he said.

Other participants included Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Commissioner for Engineering and Operations Brigadier General (Retd.) Iqbal Ahmed; BTRC Director General for Engineering and Operations Brigadier General Shafiur Rahman; TIB Research Associate Abdullah Zahid Osmani; and WEEE Society Bangladesh Chairperson Sumon Ahmed Sabir.

//DBTech/DADNB/SMP/OEM//