Bangladesh has emerged as a net importer of hazardous electronic waste, with weak regulatory oversight enabling repeated violations of the Basel Convention, according to a new report. The findings raise serious environmental and public-health alarms for a country whose enforcement infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with rising cross-border e-waste flows.

What the Data Shows

The report, citing a National Board of Revenue (NBR) document, found that 40 companies declared imports under HS code 8549 — the customs classification for e-waste — multiple times between 2022 and 2025, in apparent breach of international hazardous-waste trade rules. Combined imports under that code totalled approximately $700,000 over the period.

In volume terms, roughly 14,985 tonnes of e-waste and scrap entered Bangladesh between 2022 and 2025, compared with just 4,040 tonnes of printed circuit boards and scrap exported — confirming the country's net-importer status. Notably, the textiles and apparel sector accounted for about 27% of the identified e-waste importers.

Why the True Scale May Be Larger

The NGO Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) warned that the reported figures are likely understated, because importers frequently misdeclare shipments under other HS codes to avoid detection. Abdullah Zahid Osmani, research associate at TIB, noted that around 90% of import consignments clear customs with only basic checks, while just 10% undergo detailed physical inspection — a gap that experts say is being systematically exploited.

Health and Environmental Risks

Hazardous heavy metals commonly found in e-waste — including lead, mercury, and cadmium — can leach into soil and water, eventually entering the food chain, experts warned. Poor coordination among regulatory agencies was cited as a key structural reason why violations persist despite existing rules.

Bangladesh does have a legal framework in place: the Hazardous Waste (E-waste) Management Rules, 2021. However, enforcement remains weak, and the absence of effective cargo-screening systems allows prohibited e-waste to enter through declared import channels.

What Officials Said

Md. Ziaul Haque, additional director general of the Department of Environment (DoE), described illegal e-waste trade through declared import channels as 'a matter of great concern.' He called for deeper investigation into what products are actually arriving under the e-waste label, pointing out that specific items such as old refrigerators have already been banned due to their environmental hazards.

The report also flagged concerns around informal e-waste businesses, including allegations of illegal financial transactions — such as payments to obtain licences or sustain operations outside regulatory oversight.

What Needs to Change

Analysts and civil society groups argue that closing the enforcement gap will require stronger inter-agency coordination, upgraded cargo-screening technology at ports, and stricter penalties for misdeclaration. This comes amid growing global pressure on developing nations to resist becoming dumping grounds for rich-country electronic waste. With Bangladesh's manufacturing base expanding, the risk that e-waste inflows scale alongside legitimate imports is a trajectory regulators will need to actively counter.