Executive Director of ESDO, Ms. Siddika Sultana, represented the Asian region as Director of the Asian Center for Environmental Health and Vice President (Asia), World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry. She also represented Bangladesh and presented the country’s progress and priorities for phasing out dental amalgam at the WHO South-East Asia Regional Workshop on Strengthening Collaboration for the Phase-out of Dental Amalgam in Bangkok, Thailand.
The workshop brought together representatives from eight countries, WHO, the Minamata Convention Secretariat, and regional stakeholders. Thailand shared the outcomes and lessons learned from its GEF-7 Phasing Down Dental Amalgam Project, while participants exchanged experiences and strengthened regional collaboration to accelerate the transition to mercury-free dentistry under the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
The Bangladesh delegation also included Dr. Shahriar Hossain, Senior Technical Advisor of ESDO; Mr. Rezaul Karim, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; and Mr. Abdul Waresh Ansary, Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Day 2 | Workshop on Strengthening Collaboration on Phasing Out Dental Amalgam in the WHO South-East Asia Region
Bangladesh actively participated in the second day of the regional workshop held in Bangkok, Thailand, contributing to discussions on strengthening regional collaboration and advancing mercury-free dentistry.
Ms. Siddika Sultana, Vice President (Asia), World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, Director of ACEH, and Executive Director of ESDO, emphasized the importance of regional cooperation and reaffirmed the World Alliance’s commitment to supporting countries in phasing out dental amalgam. She highlighted that WHO leadership, strong national commitment, technical assistance, financing, and regional collaboration will be essential to achieve the 2030 milestones and complete the phase-out of dental amalgam by 2034 under the Minamata Convention on Mercury amendment.
On behalf of Bangladesh, Mr. Abdul Waresh Ansary, Senior Assistant Secretary, Health Services Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, delivered the country presentation, while Mr. Rezaul Karim, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, shared Bangladesh’s commitment to implementing the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
Mr. Florian Schulze, Managing Director, European Network for Environmental Medicine and Administrative Vice President, World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, participated virtually and shared global perspectives on dental amalgam trade and the transition toward mercury-free alternatives.
Dr. Foijun Nahar, Research and Policy Associate, ESDO, and Dr. Sharmin Azad Liza, Program Associate, ESDO, also participated virtually, representing ESDO and contributing to regional knowledge exchange and discussions on advancing mercury-free dentistry.
