Thousand of kilograms of alkyl phenol ethoxylates (APEO), 100% non-biodegradable, are on regular sale in our chemical market round the country. It is totally banned by European Commission. But a number of dishonest importers import this chemical from Germany, Korea, China, India, Taiwan and some other countries and sell it to customers under different trade names. APEO issue is a great threat to our economy. Most of the textile dyeing and processing factories, jute mills and leather industries use this chemical and damage the environment.
I would urge the relevant govt. department and NGOs to set up APEO test facility in Chittagong seaport and Benapole land port to stop entry of this environmentally hazardous chemical.