We are proud to share that 𝗠𝘀. 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗸𝗮 𝗦𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗮, 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗦𝗗𝗢, joined a key event at the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA) addressing the rising global dangers of toxic skin-bleaching products, alongside 𝗗𝗿. 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗔𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗱, 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘆, 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 (𝗠𝗼𝗘𝗙𝗖𝗖), 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗵’𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗡𝗘𝗔.

𝗠𝘀. 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗸𝗮 𝗦𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗮 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱:

“Mercury-containing skin-lightening products are a major public health and environmental concern worldwide, especially in South Asia, including Bangladesh. Societal pressures and beauty norms drive demand, but the risks are real.

Since 2015, ESDO has been actively working in Bangladesh in collaboration with International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), Environmental and Energy Bureau (EEB), and the Zero Mercury Working Group to research these products, raise awareness, and advocate for stronger enforcement. Under Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) rules, the maximum allowable mercury in cosmetics is 1 ppm, and any product above this is illegal. Yet many toxic creams remain available, highlighting the need for stronger monitoring and public education.”

𝗗𝗿. 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮 𝗔𝗵𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱:

“Bangladesh is committed to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, and we continue to strengthen national policies and enforcement to phase out mercury-containing products. Protecting public health and the environment is a top priority.”

𝗠𝘀. 𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗶𝗸𝗮 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝘀: “𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆—𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗳𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝘂𝗿𝘆.”