On August 23, 2025, the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) organized a Consultative Workshop on developing the Strategy for a Lead-Free Bangladesh & Multi-Year Plan of Action (2025–2035) at the Department of Environment Auditorium in Dhaka. This workshop was organized in partnership with ESDO, UNICEF Bangladesh and Pure Earth.
The objectives of the workshop were to review the draft Strategy and Multi-Year Plan of Action (2025–2035) and to conduct group discussions on critical areas such as multisectoral engagement and coordination, private sector responsibility, institutional capacity, surveillance and identification of lead exposure pathways, policy and regulation, monitoring and enforcement, public awareness and education, and research and innovation.
The event saw wide participation from key ministries, departments, and institutions, including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Department of Environment (DoE), Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Industries, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Agriculture, Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI), Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), ICDDR,B, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Civil society organizations and development partners such as the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO), Pure Earth, ILO, UNICEF, ADB, and private sector representatives, including the Accumulator Battery Manufacturers & Exporters Association of Bangladesh, also actively contributed.
Distinguished remarks were delivered by Dr. Farhina Ahmed, Secretary, MoEFCC (Chief Guest); Dr. Md. Kamruzzaman, ndc, Director General, DoE, Mr. Zakaria, Chairman, Bangladesh Food Safety Authority, Dr. Fahmida Khanom, Additional Secretary, MoEFCC.
