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ToxinFree
SENTINEL ARCHIVE / CASE #014

Bangladesh

No national ban on asbestos use in construction. Bangladesh is a major shipbreaking hub (Chittagong), where end-of-life vessels containing asbestos are dismantled on beaches. A 2011 Supreme Court ruling required ships to be cleared of hazardous materials before import for demolition, but enforcement is weak. The World Bank estimates Bangladesh will import 79,000 tonnes of asbestos from end-of-life ships between 2010-2030. Asbestos from shipbreaking is often reused in local construction.

—No Ban
—
No ban in place
—
Mesothelioma Rate
—
Data not available
1990s-present
Peak Usage Era

Regulatory Timeline

  1. 1960s

    1. 1960Event

      Shipbreaking begins in Bangladesh after a cyclone strands the Greek ship MD Alpine; industry grows dramatically through the 1980s

      ↗ Source

  2. 2000s

    1. 2009Court Ruling

      Supreme Court rules that ships must be cleared of hazardous materials including asbestos before import for demolition, per Basel Convention

      ↗ Source

  3. 2010s

    1. 2011Regulation

      Government bans import of ships containing hazardous materials for scrapping; introduces rules requiring hazardous waste certificates

      ↗ Source
    2. 2018Regulation

      Bangladesh Ship Recycling Act passed — first comprehensive legislation for shipbreaking industry after years without regulation

      ↗ Source

  4. 2020s

    1. 2023Event

      Human Rights Watch reports shipping industry continues to circumvent regulations to scrap toxic ships on Bangladesh's beaches, exposing workers to asbestos

      ↗ Source

Material Identification Guide

Common materials still present in buildings

asbestos-cement roofing sheets

HIGH RISKNon-friable

1930–2000

asbestos-cement flat sheets

HIGH RISKNon-friable

1930–2000

asbestos-cement water pipes

MODERATENon-friable

1930–1990

shipbreaking-salvaged asbestos materials
↗Learn more

What To Do If You Live Here

  • Asbestos is still legally used in your country.
  • New and older construction alike may contain asbestos-containing materials.
  • Consult a certified professional before any renovation work.
  • Advocate for stronger asbestos regulations in your region.

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Sources

Last updated: 2026-03-24

Information aggregated from public sources including IBAS, EPA, and WHO. Not legal or medical advice.

How we source our data →