Bangladesh High Court orders investigation after microplastics found in toothpaste

Bangladesh’s High Court has ordered an investigation after microplastics were detected in 26 of 34 toothpaste products available in the country’s market.

The bench of Justice Khizir Ahmed Chowdhury and Justice Mohammad Ziaul Hoque directed authorities to form a three-member expert committee and submit a report within 15 days.

The committee will include a teacher from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, a public health expert or Science Laboratory representative, and a representative from the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution.

Lawyer Abdullah Al Mamun, who filed the writ petition, said the court directed the three experts to investigate and report their findings within the deadline.

The health, environment and commerce secretaries, the standards institution and the Consumer Rights Protection Council were named as respondents. The source material did not identify the toothpaste brands involved or describe the testing method used.