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A writ petition has been filed with the High Court seeking an investigation into the reported presence of microplastics in toothpaste sold in Bangladesh.
The petition was filed on Monday by Supreme Court lawyer Md Abdullah Al Mamun.
He said the matter may be heard by a High Court bench comprising Justice Khizir Ahmed Chowdhury and Justice Md Ziaul Haque.
The writ names eight respondents, including the secretaries to the Ministries of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Health, and Industries, as well as the Director General of the Department of Environment.
The petitioner sought a rule asking why the respondents’ failure to ensure the safety of toothpaste in line with national standards should not be declared illegal.
The writ petition also attached a media report titled “Microplastics Found in 76% of Toothpastes in Bangladesh.”
According to the report, a year-long study conducted by the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) examined 34 toothpaste samples from 19 brands available in the local market.
The study found microplastics in 26 samples, or 76.5 per cent of those tested, including toothpaste marketed for children. Researchers detected between 20 and 320 microplastic particles per 100 grams of toothpaste.
The findings were unveiled at a press conference held at ESDO’s office in Lalmatia, Dhaka, on Sunday.
ESDO said scientific studies in countries including the United States, several European nations and South Korea have previously confirmed the presence of microplastics in toothpaste.
It described the study as the first scientific research of its kind on toothpaste marketed in Bangladesh.
The organisation said the purpose of the research was not to target any particular brand but to build a scientific evidence base that could help guide future policymaking.
