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This study investigated medical waste management (MWM) practices in Bangladesh: its present constraints, the health effect of existing practices, and the weaknesses of the current system. Suggestions for improvement of the MWM situation have also been offered. Those interviewed included hospital staff, waste pickers and local residents. In‐depth field observations and a questionnaire survey were conducted in June‐July 2000 and March 2001. Laboratory analyses of medical waste were done on different occasions from 1998‐2001. Analyses of medical waste showed severe contamination of pathogenic microorganism and respondents suffered from various infectious diseases. The study identified the absence of rigorous laws related to MWM practices. It is a necessity to improve the handling and disposal methods of medical waste in almost all the available medical facilities.