Burning of Waste Banned Nationwide, Warns Environment Adviser

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Saturday firmly stated that burning waste is strictly prohibited anywhere in the country, including at landfill sites such as Dhaka’s Matuail Sanitary Landfill.

“Whether at Matuail or elsewhere, waste burning is absolutely forbidden. It poses a grave threat to public health and the environment,” she told reporters after inspecting the landfill.

She also announced that two nearby steel mills would be shut down, and reiterated that burning batteries or extracting lead from them is illegal.
“The Department of Environment has already taken action against battery factories, and we will pursue further measures if new violations are reported,” she warned.

To protect communities living near landfill sites, Rizwana Hasan said multiple initiatives will be rolled out to improve public health and safety.
Highlighting the severe air pollution in Dhaka, she described the capital's air quality as "alarming" and a serious health risk. "Beyond government actions, we will ramp up public awareness campaigns and enforce fines on violators of environmental laws," she added.

The adviser toured several pollution-prone areas under Dhaka South and North City Corporations, including Matuail, Samadnagar in Jatrabari, Narsingdi Road, Chittagong Road, Kachpur, and Sharifpara.

During the visits, she reviewed pollution control efforts and spoke with local residents, many of whom raised concerns about respiratory and other health issues caused by deteriorating air quality.