The invasion of microplastics is no longer just a threat to our aquatic ecosystems. It has become an intimate, unavoidable part of our daily lives. Recent studies indicate that an alarming percentage of commercially important fish—such as hilsa, rohu, catla and pabda—contain microplastics in their gastrointestinal tracts and edible muscle tissues. But the threat goes far beyond our rivers. Microplastics have infiltrated almost everything we consume and use. They are in our fish, salt, soft drinks, milk, edible oil, and other food products. They are even in personal care products like the toothpaste we use every morning. From the dust on our streets to the water in our glasses, microscopic plastic fragments are everywhere. We are, quite literally, eating, drinking and brushing with them.
This pervasive contamination is the direct consequence of a systemic failure in environmental governance. Though Bangladesh made history in 2002 by banning thin polythene bags, the lack of implementation is glaring. Today, over 60 percent of retailers flout the ban, driven by an economic model addicted to cheap, disposable packaging. Dhaka alone generates approximately 646 tonnes of plastic waste daily. This mountain of waste inevitably chokes our rivers before breaking down into toxic particles poisoning our environment. The pollution is so widespread that even farmed fish are now ingesting microplastics through contaminated commercial feed.
We can no longer ignore this public health emergency, and the solutions require swift, tangible action rather than empty rhetoric. To complement this, the government must radically overhaul enforcement of regulations. Instead of relying on rare mobile courts to catch offenders in the act, local government bodies should be empowered to levy administrative fines on those who defy the ban. Furthermore, the economic reality of plastics must reflect their true cost. The state must implement Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)—forcing manufacturers to manage the waste they create—and enforce refundable deposit schemes on plastic bottles. Finally, we must actively revive our traditional, plastic-free packaging to replace industrial plastics.
The science is simple: rampant plastic pollution is poisoning us. The presence of microplastics in our primary protein sources and everyday household items is a profound threat to our future. The government must provide the institutional follow-through to enforce its laws and foster sustainable alternatives. Until it does, the 2002 ban will remain a hollow symbol, and the invisible, silent threat inside our bodies will only grow more severe.
