Strict action is demanded on import of illegal smart products to save health and environment

According to the research report published in 2021 by the international research institute TeScio, the amount of e-waste in the world in 2019 was 5 crore 36 lakh metric tons. The organization estimates that by the year 2030, the amount of e-waste in the world will increase to 74.7 million metric tons. The demand for e-products is increasing with the growing urbanization in the free market economy. In this case, the demand for these products is also high in Bangladesh, which is transforming from digital to smart. And due to the health and environmental risks of the unrestricted import of used IT and electronics products from developed countries and not dumping them in a proper process, Bangladesh is becoming a dumping yard of e-waste! 3 million metric tons of e-waste is generated every year in the country. Out of this, maximum 10.5 kg ton of e-waste is generated only from mobile phones. At least 2 lakh 96 thousand 302 units are generated from broken televisions 1. About 7 lakh tons of e-waste. More than 2.5 million tons are coming from the ship breaking industry. Alarmingly, this waste is increasing at a rate of 30 percent every year. According to that, by the year 2025, Bangladesh will become a wasteland of millions of tons of e-waste; Because, by 2030 billion units of mobile will be produced annually and computer PCB based metal recovery business will expand; Which can lead to dire humanitarian crisis.

In addition to creating awareness to deal with this urgent humanitarian crisis, the sector concerned has called for the initiation of experimental e-waste recycling project by preparing a roadmap to stop the illegal import of refurbished products that create 'e-waste' through proper research. They say e-waste poses health risks to individuals as well as adversely affects the environment. Lack of proper e-waste management pollutes water, air and soil. Increasing the temperature of the environment and destroying the fertility of the land. Experts fear that smart Bangladesh will face challenges if the country's 'e-waste' is not controlled now. They suggested strict enforcement of laws and use of innovative technologies like hydro-recycling in e-waste management.

The speakers raised such apprehensions in a round table discussion organized by Bangladesh ICT Journalist Forum (BIJF) on 'Bangladesh at Carbon Risk of E-waste: Causes and Pathways' held at the Pan-pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital on Saturday afternoon.

Professor Dr. Syed Akhtar Hossain, Dean of the School of Science and Engineering, Canadian International University of Bangladesh, presented the main article in the event. In the presentation, he said, there is no guideline for e-waste. To overcome this situation there is a need to create an e-waste management policy with each product. At the same time from October 14, 2023 we will celebrate International E-Waste Awareness Day nationwide under the banner of BIJF.  We also want to conduct a hackathon on e-waste management with the participation of students.

While delivering the welcome speech, The BIJF President Nazneen Nahar said that besides highlighting the harmful aspects of e-waste, this initiative taken by BIJF will be strengthened in the future to protect future generations from its dangers.

Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority Managing Director Rezaul Karim said that e-waste management is very relevant with the times. For this, there needs to be a specific authority in e-waste management as well as creating awareness. I hope BIJF will act as a pressure group to implement it. He also opines that the Department of Environment should take proper responsibility in this regard.

Deputy Director of the Spectrum Division of BTRC, Engineer Md. Mahfuzul  Alam; Deputy Director of the Department of Environment Dr.Abdullah Al Mamun; RAB Law and Media Wing Director Khandaker Ali Moin; Commerce Ministry Central Digital Commerce Cell Deputy Secretary Saeed Ali; Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection (DNCRP) Deputy Director (Dhaka Division) Manzoor Mohammad Shahriar, BUET Faculty of Civil Engineering CERM Director Rowshan Mumtaz and Professor Dr. Lafifa Jamal of Dhaka University Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering Department were present as the discussants.

SAARC CCI (Bangladesh) executive committee member Shafqat Haider moderated the program.

Shahid Ul Munir, former president of Bangladesh Computer Samity; Abdul Fattah, Chairman of Global Brand Private Limited; Mohammad Zahirul Islam, Managing Director of Smart Technologies (BD) Limited; MA Hossain Jewel, Managing Director of JR Recycling/Solutions; HP Bangladesh Business Development Manager (Consumer PS) Kaushik Jana; Asus Bangladesh Country Product Manager Asadur Rahman Saki; Lenovo India Regional Manager (Commercial Business) Suman Roy; Bangladesh Supreme Court Advocate Barrister Najmus Saleheen; Head of Sales, UCC Shaheen Molla; Mujahid Al Beruni Sujan, Sales Director of Smart Technologies also took part in the discussion and expressed their stances on e-waste.

In the meeting, the speakers emphasized the importance of taking proper steps without delay in public-private joint partnership to present Bangladesh as a smart country from the risk e-waste hazard. The General Secretary of the organization, Sabbin Hasan, assured that BIJF will play a role in smart journalism in the future by bringing the suggestions of the speakers to the attention of the appropriate authorities of the government.

In the discussion on the original article, Professor Lafifa Jamal first said that today's electronic products are tomorrow's e-waste. Keyboard and mouse are more electronic than laptop computers. So you have to decide where to put them. According to the e-waste management rules of 2022, there is a provision to take back these products to those who produce them, but it is not being followed. So it is necessary to create awareness about this.

DNCRP Deputy Director Manzoor Mohammad Shahriar said that lead is spreading in the country from battery powered vehicles. So first of all producers should be held accountable. BIJF has to create pressure on the media workers who are known as the mirror of the society to keep the policy makers under pressure.

Rowshan Mumtaz, Director of CERM, Faculty of Civil Engineering, BUET, said, "We have done research on e-waste management from BUET and a draft of e-waste law 2001 has been prepared. Re-use is not e-waste. So I can call it as an e-resource. That is why its conservation and management is the biggest challenge here. Japan wants to make gold medal with recycled e-waste. Only if the recycling plant is set up in the hi-tech park will it create utility as a resource.

Atiqur Rahman, resident representative of Dell Bangladesh, said that e-waste is generated from every electronic device. So awareness is created about how it is being managed. There are very few opportunities for professional e-waste management in the country. Therefore, the expired electronic products entering the country through illegal channels should be strictly stopped. And we will take back the products served through distributors.

Suman Roy said, “We can get COT certified on the product. Lenovo invests 5.5 percent of total production cost in e-waste management. Shahid ul Munir said that even though there is a law, it is becoming a dustbin of e-waste due to non-compliance. Therefore, if the government supports it, it should take the initiative to manage e-waste in a proper process.

Saeed Ali said that e-waste is now being generated in every step of life. For this we can use 5R terminology. At the same time, the mindset of the consumer needs to change at the marginal level. Everyone should think about this.

Khandaker Al Moin said that it is possible to reduce the e-waste risk if all stakeholders take a concerted initiative. But in this case there is no alternative to public awareness. Baggage products are in demand in the country. We have taken legal action. But it appears that the same person is doing the same business after being arrested four times. If you provide information, we will investigate and continue this operation.

Abdul Fattah said concerted efforts are needed to save e-waste. We as distributors accept them and work.

Mohammad Zahirul Islam said that converting e-waste into e-resource through management is not commercially viable. Thinking about our internal e-waste management. Then e-waste is being dumped in Bangladesh from foreign countries. Some businessmen based in Pakistan and some unscrupulous businessmen of Bangladesh are doing this. Every month 15-12 thousand refurbished laptops are entering the market. By doing this, the government would get a revenue of 30-31 crore taka.

Mahfuzul Alam said that in July last year, I gave instructions making telecom e-waste management mandatory. They are now coming within the norms and reporting every six months through e-waste management.

MA Hossain Jewel said, there is no recycling plant in Bangladesh. We separate the maximum amount. Then send it abroad. They produce gold from it. So I don't waste it; I mean wealth. In our country, on an average, each person produces 1 kg of e-waste. As a result, we have a market of 16 crore taka in this sector. For this illegal import-export should be stopped.

Kaushik Jana said, we are now victims of environmental disaster due to e-waste from developed countries. So we use environmentally sustainable equipment in all our products.

Nazmus Saleheen said, illegal import of electronics products is smuggling. It should be brought before the court. However, the provision of donation of electronic products is prohibited by law. But in practice it is not possible to implement. Such jargon creates complications in legal aid. Moreover, since the HS code of the software is not there, it has to be imported into the code of the pen drive. These should be done.