Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin has announced that Bangladesh will join the global celebration of World Environment Day by taking steps to control plastic pollution in the country.
The minister revealed that a ten-year action plan has been formulated to combat plastic pollution, including a three-year plan to ban single-use plastics.
The environment minister shared these details during a press conference held on Sunday at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
To address the issue of banned polythene shopping bags, mobile courts have filed 3,692 cases from January 2019 to April 2023, resulting in fines totaling Tk5,47,00,000, the minister said.
Furthermore, 1,763 tons of polythene have been seized, and 169 individuals have been sentenced to varying terms of imprisonment.
Efforts are underway to prevent pollution from single-use plastics in forest areas, including the Sundarbans. Solid Waste Management Rules 2021 have been established to ensure proper waste management, and recently enacted Environment Conservation Rules 2023 aim to address environmental concerns, Shahab Uddin mentioned.
He said as part of the country's environmental protection program, large-scale tree plantations are being carried out. The government aims to increase the country's tree cover from 22.37% to 25% and forest land from 14.1% to 16% by 2030.
Extensive afforestation, forest conservation, and sustainable forest management initiatives have been ongoing, resulting in the creation of 1,93,453-hectare blocks, the minister added.
The environment minister said the country will join the celebration of World Environment Day under the theme Solutions to Plastic Pollution with the slogan Beat Plastic Pollution aimed at raising awareness among the public.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the event by planting trees at Ganabhaban on June 5 at 9:30am.
The Environment Fair, set to take place at Sher E Bangla Nagar, will kick off on Monday and continue until June 11.
Furthermore, the Tree Fair, which is part of the overall festival, will also be held at the same venue from Monday to July 12.
However, the fair will remain closed during the Eid-ul-Azha holiday period, from June 27 to 30. Visitors are invited to explore the fair's offerings from 9am to 8pm every day.
The opening ceremony at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center on Monday at 11am will be attended by Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud as the chief guest.
During the occasion, the Bangabandhu Award for Wildlife Conservation 2022, National Environment Medal 2022, Prime Minister's National Award for Plantation 2021, and dividend checks will be distributed among the beneficiaries of Social Forestry.
Shahab Uddin mentioned that Bangladesh Television, Bangladesh Betar, and other media outlets have organized programs highlighting the significance of Environment Day.
A special supplement will be published in national newspapers, and the Department of Environment will release a circular and booklet.
World Environment Day will also be celebrated in 100 educational institutions across all districts and upazilas of the country, as well as in Dhaka city.
Various activities have been planned for Environment Day, including children's painting, debate and slogan competitions, environmental and awareness seminars for entrepreneurs in industrial establishments.
Additionally, the National Tree Fair's theme for this year is Plant Trees and Care, Build a Healthy Generation, aiming to enhance the importance of nurturing planted trees.
Tree fairs will be held at national, divisional, district, and upazila levels, and tree saplings will be distributed in educational institutions. Messages will also be sent through mobile phone operators to raise awareness.
