A clean-up campaign was held at Khilkhet Bazar in Dhaka, as part of an initiative led by the Department of Environment (DoE), with technical support from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (Unido) and financial support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The event aimed to raise awareness among local communities and market stakeholders to reduce the usage of single-use plastics (SUP) and promote sustainable plastics use.
Key speakers at the event included Dr Abdul Hamid, director general, Razinara Begum, director (Waste and Chemicals Management), SM Arafat, representative of Unido, and the president and secretary of the Khilkhet Bazar Traders' Association.
SM Arafat said: "We are encouraging markets to adopt alternatives to single-use plastic bags. To make this a reality, Unido is empowering leaders with innovative design technologies that are environmentally friendly and strengthening the recycling sector. We are also working to develop policies that promote responsible production and usage among producers."
Dr Abdul Hamid emphasized: "Single-use plastics, such as polythene, take centuries to disintegrate and harm all forms of life, including livestock. We urge everyone to support this initiative, for the future of our children and our country."
The clean-up campaign also featured the distribution of alternative materials to replace polythene bags and the installation of bins and permanent notice boards for collecting existing polythene packaging from the market. BD Clean participated in the clean-up efforts, alongside Garbageman, who assisted in removing and collecting plastics from the area.
This program falls under the Integrated Approach Towards Sustainable Plastic Use and Marine Litter Prevention in Bangladesh project, this initiative falls under Component 2, focusing on consumer awareness and action. Building upon the success of previous efforts, including 11 cleanup events across various communities like schools and marine fishing groups, this campaign took a step further in engaging local stakeholders.
Unido and the Norwegian government remain committed to supporting the Department of Environment (DoE) and local communities in their fight against plastic pollution, ensuring a cleaner and greener Bangladesh.
