The Department of Environment (DoE), with technical support from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and financial support from the Government of Norway, hosted a discussion and activation encampment on plastic waste management Thursday at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.
The event took place during the ongoing BPL T20 cricket match and aimed to highlight the urgent need to reduce plastic pollution while encouraging sustainable waste management practices.
This initiative is part of the 60 ongoing cleanup and community engagement programs conducted nationwide by the DoE and UNIDO under the “Integrated Approach Towards Sustainable Plastic Use and Marine Litter Prevention” project in Bangladesh. At the event, Ms. Sonia Sultana, Director, DoE, Chittagong Metro, was present as the chief guest while special guests were Ms. Nasim Farhana Shireen, Director (Lab), DoE, Chittagong, Dr. Abdullah Al Mamun, Deputy Director, DoE, and Head of the Project, Mr. Md. Muzahidur Rahman, Deputy Director, DoE, Mr. Md. Maruf Mohaimen, Assistant Director, DoE, Mr. S M Gubair Bin Arafat, National Expert, UNIDO, Mr. Sattaya Bhattacharya, National Project Coordinator, UNIDO.
Speaking as the chief guest, Ms. Sonia Sultana emphasized the critical importance of sustainable plastic waste management. She urged all stakeholders, especially the younger generation, to address non-degradable waste that continues to pollute land, water, and air. “Plastic waste infiltrates every corner of our environment, often breaking down into microplastics harmful to all living beings,” she said.
Ms. Sultana also expressed gratitude for the ongoing community engagement and cleanup programs conducted jointly by the DoE, UNIDO, and the Government of Norway.
As special guest, Ms. Nasim Farhana Shireen commended UNIDO and the Government of Norway for leading sustainable plastic waste management initiatives in Bangladesh. Citing the alarming consequences of pollution, she remarked, “Contamination poses serious threats to humans, plants, and aquatic life—potentially leading to diseases like cancer. We must embrace the 3R approach—Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle—to mitigate the dangers posed by plastic waste.”
Mr. Sattaya Bhattacharya provided insights into the Sustainable Plastics Use and Marine Litter Project in Bangladesh. “From morning till night, we rely on plastic items—from toothbrushes to various daily essentials. While we can’t eliminate plastics entirely, we can minimize waste by following the 3R approach,” he explained. He applauded the Rover Scout units in Chittagong for organizing a stadium cleaning brigade, adding that their efforts “will inspire others to make the environment free from non-biodegradable waste.”
Offering a vote of thanks, Dr. Abdullah Al Mamun, the Project Director of the DoE and Marine Litter Project, urged the public to stay vigilant about “mindless pollution,” especially plastic waste. Highlighting the role of young people, he stated, “Those who are young now will become tomorrow’s adults. It’s their responsibility to encourage others to curb pollution and ensure the next generation can thrive in a cleaner environment.”
Also present were Deputy Project Director Kazi Sumon (DoE), Mr. Saiful Islam, Assistant Director (DoE), Mr. Md. Hojayfah Sarkar, Ms. Romana Akter, Assistant Director (DoE), Ms. Rumpa Sikdar (DoE, Chittagong Metro), and other chemists and environmentalists from the DoE. Twenty-five participants from the Rover Scout Unit of Chittagong took part in the activation and stadium ground cleanup program, having already made the stadium galleries free of plastic waste. In today’s drive, they collected 60 kilograms of waste, which was subsequently disposed of in dedicated bins.
