Environmental activists, students, teachers and community members on Friday called for urgent action against lead pollution in Rangpur, warning that unsafe lead-acid battery recycling and other sources of exposure are putting millions of children at serious health risk.

The call was made from an awareness rally organised by youth-led environmental organisation YouthNet Global with support from Pure Earth, an international organisation working to eliminate toxic pollution, as part of a week-long nationwide campaign being conducted across all eight divisions of Bangladesh under the theme, “Stop Lead Pollution, Ensure Healthy Lives and a Safe Environment.”

The rally began from Chandra Mor in Rangpur city in the morning and passed through major streets, including Abu Sayed Chattar, before ending at the main gate of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur.

Students, teachers, environmental activists, government representatives and young people joined the campaign carrying banners and placards demanding stronger measures to control lead contamination, according to a press release.

Bangladesh has one of the highest burdens of childhood lead exposure in the world, with more than 3.5 crore children exposed to harmful levels of lead.

Speakers at the rally warned that continued exposure to this toxic metal is threatening children’s health, brain development and long-term wellbeing.

The participants placed five key demands, including declaring lead as a toxic chemical and developing a comprehensive national strategy, introducing regular blood lead level monitoring for children and vulnerable communities, enforcing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to prevent unsafe battery recycling, ensuring safe collection and environmentally sound recycling of used batteries, and strengthening research and institutional capacity to address lead exposure.

Speakers said unregulated lead-acid battery breaking and recycling activities are releasing toxic lead into soil, water and air, exposing workers, children and surrounding communities to severe health risks.

Prof Dr Abu Reza Md Towfiqul Islam, head of the Department of Disaster Science and Management at BRUR, described lead pollution as a “silent poison” that gradually causes long-term damage to human health and the environment.

“Awareness and preventive measures are the only ways to protect our environment and future generations from this invisible threat,” he said.

“Lead pollution from unsafe battery recycling is not only harming workers but threatening entire communities, especially children. Bangladesh urgently needs stronger regulation, public awareness and youth-led action to address this silent health crisis,” said Sohanur Rahman, Executive Coordinator of YouthNet Global.

He said lead pollution is an environmental justice issue because the poorest and most vulnerable communities often bear the greatest burden of toxic exposure.

“We need stronger regulation, community awareness and youth leadership to eliminate this preventable crisis and ensure a safer future for children,” Sohanur added.

Citing Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) data and related research, speakers said Bangladesh has one of the highest numbers of children affected by lead exposure globally, with more than 3.5 crore children facing elevated blood lead levels.

They said around 38.3 percent of children under five years of age have blood lead levels above the safe limit set by the World Health Organization.

The organisers called for coordinated action from government agencies, industries, communities and young people, saying that protecting children from lead exposure is essential for building a healthier, safer and more sustainable Bangladesh.