Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Tuesday said the work done to prevent the use of plastic is far less than what is needed.
"But working on recycling used plastic is not that easy. In the next two to three months, we will undertake a small project and work on a pilot basis in a limited area, where we will try to provide fishermen with an alternative to plastic nets," Rizwana said as the chief guest at an event organized by the UNOPS PLEASE Project: Plastic Free Rivers and Seas for South Asia, held at a hotel in Dhaka.
The event brought together national and international stakeholders committed to innovative, community-driven plastic waste solutions.
Regarding single-use plastic, the adviser said: “While shopping malls have been able to use alternatives to plastic, single-use plastic has not been stopped in markets. The government is gradually working to ban plastic. In this regard, the cooperation of the general public is also needed.”
She added: “If we talk about plastic management in rivers and seas, the government is trying to secure international donor support to finalize a project to save four rivers of Dhaka city. We will initially work on the Buriganga River. But the challenge in working on the Buriganga is that it has a layer of polythene and plastic up to five to seven feet deep.
"Currently, we do not have a machine to remove this layer, so the BIWTA is in the process of purchasing one. It will arrive in November. Now the question is: where will we keep these plastics? If we remove the toxic soil, where will we store it? Although there is technology to process this soil, we must consider where to keep it. We have to think about all these aspects.”
Environment Ministry Additional Secretary Dr Fahmida Khanom highlighted the role of innovation and partnerships in tackling the plastic crisis.
She said: “After this project is completed, our efforts should not stop. Our next target is to implement similar projects at the divisional level. The next step is to figure out how to collaborate with local government, the World Bank, Brac, Arannayk, Red Orange, and others. If we work together, we can achieve our goals regarding the plastic crisis.”
As special guests, global leaders, including Gwyn Lewis, UN resident coordinator, Gayle Martin, World Bank acting country director, and Sudhir Muralidharan, UNOPS country manager, reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s environmental leadership.
Before the speeches began, field workers shared their experiences and explained how they have benefited from their involvement in the project.
Zalo Begum, a worker from the Mongla area, said: “For the last 10 years, my husband and I have been working in this project. Our monthly income is now around Tk10,000. But earlier, we did not even earn Tk5,000. We had to live a very difficult life with eight children. After joining this project, plastic waste has changed our fate.”
At the time, stakeholders at the workshop explored pathways to replicate these models across Bangladesh.
They advised integrating plastic waste tracking into smart city plans, formalizing waste pickers through a national social protection program, and embedding plastic education into school curricula.
Real solutions, real impact
From floating plastic barriers that prevent urban flooding to biodegradable product hubs and real-time plastic tracking apps in the Sundarbans, the innovations showcased at the workshop are already making waves.
The Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) – University of Chittagong is pioneering circular economy models in coastal regions by recovering ghost fishing gear and producing over 20,000 biodegradable products while training hundreds in eco-enterprise development.
Red Orange Limited has installed floating barriers in Dhaka’s Kallyanpur canals, collecting over 65 tons of waste, and deploying IoT tools to track plastic pollution.
Arannayk Foundation launched the first-ever plastic audit in the Sundarbans and is digitizing informal waste sectors through mobile apps and gender-inclusive training programs.
Collectively, the PLEASE Project in Bangladesh has removed nearly 384,000kg of plastic waste, created 250 jobs, and trained 2,366 waste workers, with nearly one-third of those positions held by women.
Arnob Chakrabarty, managing director of Red Orange Limited, said: “We are ready to scale what works, making clean rivers, coasts, and communities not just a dream, but a national standard.”
Dr Md Abdul Motaleb, interim executive director of Arannayk Foundation, concluded with a call to action: “These solutions must move beyond pilot status. With sustained support, they can drive nationwide transformation.”
A regional effort with local impact
The PLEASE Project is a regional initiative implemented by the South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme (SACEP) and supported by the World Bank and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
In Bangladesh, the project is implemented under the guidance of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The workshop was co-arranged by the Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS), University of Chittagong, Arannayk Foundation, and Red Orange Limited.
Red Orange Limited Director (Strategy) Jannatul Munia, Arannayk Foundation Program Officer HAM Fayeem, IMS Professor Alamgir from the University of Chittagong, and Brac Manager Ruksar Sultana also presented at the event.
