, Oct. 31 -- Youth activists, environmental campaigners and volunteers on Saturday called for urgent and coordinated action to tackle lead pollution in Bangladesh, warning that 38.34 percent of children in the country have blood lead levels above the reference threshold.

They made the call at a rally and human chain held at Manik Mia Avenue in the capital, marking International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2026.

The programme was jointly organised by Volunteer for Bangladesh (VBD), Dhaka District South, YouthNet Global and Pure Earth Bangladesh.

Local representatives, civil society members, young environmental activists, journalists and volunteers joined the programme, urging stronger enforcement of environmental laws, safer recyclin...