Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Mayor Atiqul Islam said the authorities concerned will formulate necessary law, and will implement it to protect the environment.
DNCC mayor made the statement on Monday at the closing ceremony of a six-day long exposition of 3 million plastic bottles which were collected as waste materials at the TNT playground in the capital’s Mohakhali area.
BD Clean, a youth voluntary organization, arranged the exhibition in a bid to raise awareness among people about the use of plastic materials.
Speaking on the occasion, Mayor Atiqul Islam said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina directed him to formulate law and enforce it against those who are polluting the environment.
In a determined course of action, the Premier instructed authorities to hold the polluters accountable for their actions, and bring them on LIVE media to help journalist and stakeholders, mayor added.
He also urged the citizens to learn about their rights and work together to save Dhaka city, the country and offer a better safeguard for the next generation of Bangladeshis.
He also urged the people to launch awareness campaign. If we can put up effective awareness campaign, we could easily save our environment.
"It takes an estimated 450 years to decompose plastic materials. Plastic reduces fertility of soil and badly affects the environment and biodiversity."
DNCC mayor further said: "In the world, there are some 9.6 billion tons of plastic materials and only 10% is recycled and rest 90% remains in the environment and is posing threats to our future generation."
Plastic has toxic pollutants that damage the environment and cause land, water, and air pollution. It can take hundreds, or even thousands of years for plastic to break down, so the damage to the environment is long-lasting.
Echoing the DNCC mayor's concern, Kabir Bin Anwar, Secretary of the Ministry of Water Resources, said we must apply the law or slap fines to protect the environment.
"We have started operation in 64 districts to reclaim the rivers and canals from the illegal occupants, and also ordered the removal of all unauthorized structures along river banks and canals to protect the environment," Secretary Kabir said.
Farid Uddin, the founder of BD Clean, expressed his belief that education and awareness are of utmost importance, if we are to keep our environment greener and clean. He urged the business and industrial plant owners to have recycling units, in order for them to recycle the plastic waste and save the environment.
In the event, Amber group Managing Director Akhtaruzzaman bought the 3 million plastic bottles for around Tk13 lakh.
DNCC CEO Abdul Hai, Mymensingh Mayor Ikramul Haque Titu, Rajshahi Mayor ABM Khairuzzaman Liton, Councilor Md Nasir, and others attended the program.