PFAS poisoning soil and water sources in Bangladesh

At a forum held in Dhaka on Saturday, May 3, experts warned about the risk posed by perfluoro and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to public health and the environment. The event had a sense of urgency and was attended by environmentalists, policymakers, and global advocates. PFAS are already provoking serious damage among low-income communities near industrial zones. According to development activist Shahid Hasan, 67% of Bangladesh’s water pollution comes from the garment industry, with poor families drinking poison or farming with contaminated water. Waterkeepers Bangladesh Coordinator Sharif Jamil pointed out that the country has no policy to ban PFAS and that most people do not even know their presence in water sources. Hubert Blom, European Union Programme Manager, framed the issue as a global crisis, calling for tighter chemical import controls and industry oversight. Dr Mujibur Rahman Howlader, former National River Protection Commission chairman, asked for “political muscle and united action” to save Bangladesh’s ecosystems. Politicians also took part in the discussion. BNP Chairperson’s Adviser, Dr Sakhawat Hasan Jiban, demanded harsh penalties for polluters, emphasizing the importance of environmental protection for good governance.
At the end of the forum, international advocates like Jackie Esposito of Waterkeeper Alliance and Amanullah Parag of 3Fifty.org pressed for a national roadmap to curb PFAS. Dr Zaki Yusuf and Atal Kumar Majumdar of ESDO supported the call, warning that inaction could lead to a public health disaster.