Bangladesh free from toxic DDT pesticide, says environment minister

Environment Minister Shahab Uddin officially declared Bangladesh free from dangerous DDT pesticide today.

In 22 containers, the ministry with the help of other organisations safely exported the DDT between October 30 and December 10 last year, said the minister.

Earlier, about 500 tonnes of pesticide was stored at the Chattogram Government Medical Subdepot warehouse for 37 years.

Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is a persistent organic pollutant (POP): a chemical that can have significant negative effects on human health and the environment, according to the World Health Organization. Only a few countries, which include France, have plants to destroy the substance.

Use of DDT has been gradually banned or restricted across the world since the mid 20th century.