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Foreign plastic waste threatens St. Martin ahead of tourist season
Published : Monday, 5 October, 2026 at 8:51 AM
Observer Online Report
Collected Photo
Large quantities of foreign plastic waste, including bottles and polythene packaging originating from Myanmar and Thailand, have washed ashore at Chera Dwip in Saint Martin's Island ahead of the upcoming tourist season.
A local worker for the Department of Environment (DoE), Abdul Aziz, discovered the trash accumulation during a inspection of the island's southernmost point on Saturday.
Upon closer examination, labels and logos printed in foreign scripts belonging to beverage and commercial brands from Myanmar and Thailand were identified on most of the discarded plastic bottles.
Environmental officials and local hoteliers suspect that monsoon ocean currents and strong southerly winds swept the marine debris across international waters onto Bangladesh's only coral-rich Ecologically Critical Area (ECA).
Khondokar Mahmud Pasha, Deputy Director of the DoE Cox's Bazar district office, expressed deep concern over the influx of cross-border marine pollution.
He emphasized that while local authorities have limited tourism and enhanced waste management to protect the island's fragile ecosystem, transboundary plastic waste poses a new threat to coral health and marine biodiversity.
DoE officials confirmed that the matter will be formally reported to higher authorities to draft actionable strategies addressing transboundary ocean pollution.
-SA
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
