Bangladesh’s High Court has ordered authorities to prepare a 90-day plan to eliminate hazardous waste engine oil stoves, citing serious health risks, environmental pollution, and regulatory failures nationwide.
The High Court of Bangladesh has directed the government to urgently develop a comprehensive plan to eliminate the production, marketing and use of hazardous stoves powered by “burnt mobile” (waste engine oil), citing growing public health and environmental risks.
In a landmark order on Wednesday, a bench of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh comprising Justice Razik-Al-Jalil and Justice Debashish Roy Chowdhury instructed the authorities to submit a detailed report within 90 days. The report must outline legal, administrative and technical measures to curb the spread of these toxic fuel-based stoves.
Public Health Emergency Under Judicial Scrutiny
The directive followed a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Dhaka resident Sultana Sheherzad, challenging the failure of regulatory bodies to stop the manufacturing, online promotion and widespread sale of the stoves.
Advocate Nusrat Jahan, representing the petitioner, argued that burning waste engine oil releases highly toxic substances, including lead, cadmium and dioxins. These are classified as hazardous waste under Bangladesh’s environmental regulations.
She warned that prolonged exposure to emissions from such stoves can lead to serious respiratory illnesses, neurological damage and long-term systemic health impacts, particularly in densely populated urban areas.
Rule Nisi Issued Over Regulatory Inaction
The court issued a rule nisi asking why the authorities’ failure to prevent the production and sale of these stoves should not be declared illegal.
Several ministries have been asked to respond, including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives.
Low-Cost Fuel, High Health Cost
Although widely used in informal industrial activities and by street food vendors because of the low cost of waste oil, experts warn that these stoves pose serious environmental and public health risks. The unregulated combustion of heavy metals and toxic residues contributes to localized air pollution and increases the risk of long-term community health problems.
Toward Stricter Hazardous Waste Control
The court’s directive signals stronger judicial attention to hazardous waste mismanagement and urban air pollution. The government’s upcoming report is expected to detail enforcement mechanisms, monitoring systems and regulatory measures to ensure waste engine oil is no longer diverted for domestic or commercial fuel use.
The ruling marks a significant step in Bangladesh’s environmental jurisprudence, reinforcing accountability in the management of toxic industrial waste and its impact on public health.
