An open Forum on ‘Mercury Free Dentistry towards Health Risk Reduction and Environmental Protection’ was organized by Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) in association with Asian Centre for Environmental Health in collaboration with University Dental College and Hospital, Bangladesh. It was held on February 9, 2016 at the auditorium of University Dental College and Hospital at 12.00 pm.

Syed Marghub Murshed, former secretary of Govt. of Bangladesh and Chairperson of ESDO was present at the event and focused on the adverse health and environmental impacts of mercury use in dentistry. He welcomed the dentists of the college to come forward to phase out mercury use in their practice. Dr. Shahriar Hossain, Secretary General of ESDO promoted ‘Mercury free dentistry in Bangladesh’ as an emerging issue for professionals and practitioners. He showed the dentists and doctors present in the open forum how human and environment become exposed to mercury and how it contaminate and affect human body and the environment. Prof Dr. Abdul Malek Bhuiyan, principal and head of University Dental College and Hospital told that mercury is not being used by the professionals of his college and he supported Bangladesh government to ratify Minamata convention. The faculties, dentists and doctors of the college spontaneously participated in the open forum and signed in the declaration form stating that they do not use mercury in their practice.