[🇧🇩] Save the Rivers/Forests/Hills-----Save the Environment

[Saif]

Why mass awareness matters for environmental protection

Mass awareness is crucial to protect environment as it is being polluted in various ways including single-use of plastic bottles. The environment is also being polluted due to liquid waste from factories, waste from kitchens and restaurants, smokes from vehicles and brick-kilns. Battery-run...

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Why mass awareness matters for environmental protection

Rabiul Islam
Journalist at Prothom Alo
Updated: 05 Jun 2025, 21: 19

A worker sorts used plastic bottles at a recycling unit in Karachi on 12 September, 2024. AFP file photo

Mass awareness is crucial to protect environment as it is being polluted in various ways including single-use of plastic bottles.

The environment is also being polluted due to liquid waste from factories, waste from kitchens and restaurants, smokes from vehicles and brick-kilns. Battery-run rickshaws also cause environment pollution.

According to a study, plastic bottles remain in the environment for up to 450 years. These release microplastics and toxic chemicals into ecosystems and food chain.

However, there is no strong waste management system in place in the country. So the mass awareness can play a significant role to protect environment from pollution.

Environment and Social Development Organisation (ESDO), a non-profit action research organisation, in a recent study reveals that the country generates maximum 3.84 billion of single-use plastic bottles every year. Only 21.4 per cent can be recycled. The rest 78.6 per cent end up in rivers, sea and dumping stations.

As a result, plastic waste along with others causes health and environmental risks. Waste from kitchens and restaurants also clog drains resulting in water logging and environmental damage.

However, only 18.4 of urban consumers and 5.5 per cent of rural consumers are aware of the health risks caused by the plastic bottles, the study says.

On the flip side, only 3.4 per cent of waste collectors are aware of the environment pollution due to plastic bottles.

In view of the consequences of health and environmental hazards, awareness can play a key role in combatting the single-use plastic.
People in general across the country discard plastic bottles without understanding its environmental impact and ultimate health hazard.

While chatting with a senior journalist friend, he shared an experience of the awareness of German people about the environment in Germany. He said he tossed a bit of foil paper on the street from a cigarette packet as there was no bin nearby. Immediately a German woman picked it up and dropped it into a bin at distance. There is hardly any such awareness in our country.

Moreover, most of the households discard plastic bottles and polythene as solid waste. But this could be different if the plastic bottles and polythene were separated from the rest and then recycled.

In this context, the government and non-government organisations can play an important role in creating mass awareness. The government can launch massive campaign about the environmental and health hazard of plastic bottles. A social campaign engaging political parties, local communities and schools, colleges and university students can also be taken across the country to create awareness among the people.

Earlier, voluntary organisations and scouts would launch campaigns about the environment pollution. But those activities are not seen now-a-days. But those activities could be revived. Given the degradation of environment, the government should chalk out various programmes to create awareness about the environment pollution.

Various committees at the ward, union, upazila and zila level can be formed to implement the programmes. These committees can hold rallies and discussions on the health and environment hazards of the plastic bottles.Moreover, the government can make policies and formulate laws to reduce the production of plastic bottles on the one hand and fine those who discard these bottles here and there.

The political parties have also a responsibility to carry out mass campaigns to create awareness among the people. But it is noticed that the political parties hardly bother with these social activities. But it is urgent to save the environment to lead a healthy and peaceful life free from environment pollution. People have been suffering from various diseases like cancer, asthma and more due to environment pollution.

Alongside carrying out studies and research on the environment pollution, the government can immediately take some steps to fight environment pollution. Mass campaigns can be one of the steps that can help reduce environment pollution. It is expected that the government will in no time do something for the environment and the human beings.

*Rabiul Islam is a journalist at Prothom Alo.​

 

[Saif]

The silent plastic crisis in rural Bangladesh

Plastic pollution is not solely an urban issue.

www.thedailystar.net

The silent plastic crisis in rural Bangladesh

While cities like Dhaka and Chattogram often dominate discussions on plastic pollution, the rural and peri-urban areas of Bangladesh bear a silent but severe brunt. PHOTO: ANISUR RAHMAN

Sumon runs a small tea stall. Every morning, he wades through ankle-deep plastic waste—a growing pile of discarded bottles, wrappers, and bags that clog the drains around his shop. "When it rains, the market floods because the drains are blocked with plastic," he says. "Business drops, and so does our hope for a cleaner place."

While cities like Dhaka and Chattogram often dominate discussions on plastic pollution, the rural and peri-urban areas of Bangladesh bear a silent but severe brunt. In rural Bangladesh, plastic waste infiltrates rivers, irrigation channels, and croplands, disrupting daily life and livelihoods. Yet, this reality rarely garners attention.

It is believed that Bangladesh produces approximately 87,000 tonnes of single-use plastic waste each year, and nearly 22 percent of this originates from rural areas. There is a notable lack of awareness regarding the environmental and health risks associated with plastic waste in rural areas. For instance, only 5.5 percent of rural consumers are aware of the health risks posed by single-use plastics, compared to 18.4 percent in urban areas. These facts highlight that plastic pollution is not solely an urban issue.

Of the plastic waste generated in Bangladesh, only 36 percent is recycled, leaving the rest to accumulate in open dumps, water bodies, and agricultural lands, exacerbating waterlogging and soil degradation. In rural areas, plastic waste mixed with crop residues blocks irrigation channels, starving crops of vital water flow. Additionally, plastic debris gathers around sluice gates, worsening persistent waterlogging.

For local farmers and traders, these seemingly small disruptions add up, impacting both their income and the local ecosystem. The impacts are further compounded by the surge in single-use plastics. Despite a ban on plastic bags in 2002, single-use plastic consumption has increased by 200 percent over the last decade, with rural areas increasingly bearing the consequences.

The government's National 3R Strategy was a step towards tackling the plastic menace through reducing, reusing, and recycling waste. However, its implementation at the grassroots level remains largely on paper. Local government institutions, particularly union parishads and municipalities, are supposed to lead the charge in managing plastic waste. But resource constraints, limited technical capacity, and a lack of structured waste management plans hinder their effectiveness.

Despite these challenges, small-scale initiatives in Bangladesh are emerging as potential game changers. The informal sector collects around 1,000 tonnes of plastic waste daily, significantly contributing to recycling efforts. However, the lack of formal recognition and support limits their impact. We are seeing the private sector also stepping into this domain. In Dhaka, for instance, Standard Chartered Bank launched a plastic exchange programme, allowing community members to trade plastic waste for cash or essentials. Replicating this initiative in rural areas could motivate grassroots communities to engage in waste collection while creating local income opportunities.

Encouragingly, a number of development platforms are working with the private sector. They are collaborating to establish and institutionalise market-centric collection hubs for plastic waste, incentivising traders to segregate and deposit waste for recycling. Such initiatives show how grassroots engagement can foster a culture of environmental responsibility, even in areas with limited waste management infrastructure.

But to effectively tackle the long-standing plastic pollution situation in rural and peri-urban areas, a few good examples are not enough; we need collective efforts and mutually benefitting strategies. First, local governments need targeted support to incorporate plastic waste management into local development plans. Waste segregation at the source, coupled with community-based recycling hubs, can lay the groundwork for more structured waste management systems.

Second, engaging local entrepreneurs in waste recycling can transform plastic from a pollutant into a resource. With technical training and seed funding, they could establish small recycling units that create useful products like eco-bricks or compost bins. In Indonesia, fishing villages have turned to innovative solutions like eco-bricks—plastic bottles filled with non-biodegradable waste used as building materials to manage plastic waste effectively. These initiatives highlight the potential of local actions in combating plastic pollution.

Third, educational programmes in schools and community centres can instil sustainable habits from an early age, reinforcing the principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. In Cox's Bazar, school collection systems have already been set up to teach children about waste segregation and composting, showing how early intervention can cultivate lasting environmental responsibility. Covering two climate hotspots—Naogaon and Satkhira—the WaterAid–Swisscontact consortium has engaged school-level students in clean-up campaigns, waste segregation activities, and educational programmes to instil sustainable waste practices.

Lastly, public-private partnerships must be leveraged to provide the necessary infrastructure and incentives for waste management. One example is Practical Action's initiative in Faridpur, where a circular economy approach is employed to transform previously unprofitable waste into valuable commodities. In this initiative, low-grade plastics collected from the Padma River and local communities are processed using pyrolysis technology, converting them into high-grade oil and black carbon, thus creating employment opportunities and improving waste workers' livelihoods.

We must keep in mind that the fight against plastic pollution extends far beyond urban centres. The crowded markets of a remote union in the south and the irrigation fields of the north are not just bearing the brunt of plastic pollution; they are also fertile grounds for solutions. With the right support, rural communities can transform from passive victims to active change-makers, driving localised recycling initiatives, championing waste reduction, and adopting sustainable practices.

Saief Manzoor-Al-Islam and Sabbir Rahman Khan are development practitioners.​

 

[Saif]

Bamboo as an eco-friendly alternative to wood

Search for more environment-friendly and sustainable alternatives to many familiar practices is now the trend of the time. And as a country highly vulnerable to environmental hazards, it is an imperative that Bangladesh should opt for such alternatives for as many sectors of the economy as possible

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Bamboo as an eco-friendly alternative to wood

SYED FATTAHUL ALIM
Published :
Jun 16, 2025 23:54
Updated :
Jun 16, 2025 23:54

Search for more environment-friendly and sustainable alternatives to many familiar practices is now the trend of the time. And as a country highly vulnerable to environmental hazards, it is an imperative that Bangladesh should opt for such alternatives for as many sectors of the economy as possible. With the woodlands of the country diminishing fast, the country can no more afford the luxury of cutting down its timber trees primarily for construction or woodwork. This refers to both the trees being grown for the purpose of timber and the natural forests where there are standing trees suitable for harvesting as timber. In this connection, the Adviser for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, during her first office day after the Eid holidays stressed the use of bamboo to make furniture instead of wood. Though bamboo is not wood, but a kind of fast-growing hollow-stemmed plant, it is nevertheless used in ways similar to wood. It is definitely a green alternative to synthetic materials like plastic. And by popularising bamboo as a major ingredient of furniture, pressure on wood can be reduced. Bamboo, which is a member of the Poaceae, that is, grass family, grows in abundance in the country's tropical climate. Use of bamboo in the rural area is widespread as a building material for thatched houses, i.e. those with their roofs made from dried grass or straw. However, with the expatriate workers from rural families sending remittance from abroad, the dominant trend in the countryside now is to replace thatched houses with tin sheds on cement floors. Such houses are considered a symbol of status. So, one can see fewer main dwellings or primary residences with thatched roofs on bamboo walls in the rural areas nowadays. Of course, sitting rooms, maybe kitchens and cowsheds still have thatched roofs. Be that as it may, bamboo has a hundred and one other uses as handicrafts including bamboo mats (chatai), winnowing fans, flat baskets (dalas), fishing traps, sieve or strainers (chaluni), toys, musical instruments, to name but a few. It has also its industrial use as a raw material (bamboo pulp) for paper mills. Once there were entire rural communities in the past whose main occupation was making various household articles from bamboo. One would come across such bamboo-made articles at the village haats or fairs. The traditional arongs, or large Bengali New Year's day village fairs, are the special events when village communities like the nolos (people whose occupation is making various household items from nol, or reed) would sell their bamboo works. Notably, bamboo is also a kind of reed. Needless to say, the survival of such communities who crafted items from bamboo encompassing a wide range of applications from carpentry, furniture-making, weaving to construction was possible only because the countryside in the past had natural bamboo grooves in large numbers.

Unfortunately, with the ever-receding forestlands due to urbanisation, the natural bamboo bushes, too, are getting thinner by the day. In that case, replacing wood with bamboo for making furniture, as the Adviser for Environment has suggested, cannot be a feasible option depending wholly on the still existing natural bamboo groves. The government will have to invest generously in this sector, incentivise entrepreneurs to commercially grow bamboo bushes. Of course, that has to be done without seizing or harming croplands.​

 

[Saif]

undefined | The Financial Express

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Ministry plans to sell 2.8m jute bags at subsidised rates

REZAUL KARIM
Published :
Jun 17, 2025 00:30
Updated :
Jun 17, 2025 00:30

The Ministry of Textiles and Jute (MoTJ) has come up with a plan for selling 2.8 million pieces of jute bags at subsidised prices for the purpose of carrying commodities as alternative to poly-bags.

To this effect, the ministry has sought necessary steps from the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) for marketing such jute bags among the consumers of the capital city through the state-run Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB).

A project has already been undertaken under the MoTJ in this regard with a view to producing about 2.8 million pieces of such jut bags, official sources said.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting, held at the MoTJ on May 19 with its Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin in the chair.

The main purpose of the initiative is to promote and encourage the use of environment-friendly jute bags as an alternative to polythene bags for the sake of protecting environment.

The project has been undertaken with the funding support of Bangladesh Climate Change Trust (BCCT), according to officials.

Under the project, about 2.8 million pieces of jute bags will be sold at subsidised prices in Dhaka Metropolitan City for the purpose of carrying commodities, according a document prepared by the MoTJ.

The Department of Jute (DJ) under the MoTJ is implementing the project, it was learnt.

But it is not possible for the department alone to complete the sales of such jute sacks due to the lack of its necessary manpower and experience to this effect, it mentioned.

As per the decision of the meeting, the commerce ministry is to issue necessary instruction to the TCB in this regard, a senior official of the DJ said.

When contacted, a commerce ministry official said: "We have received a letter from textiles and Jute ministry with regard to taking necessary steps for distributing such jute bags by the TCB."​

 

[Saif]

How climate change rewrites crimes along coast

IN THE at-risk southern region of Bangladesh, fierce winds and rising rivers cause more than just home and farmland damage. Climate change, poverty, and social disintegration are quietly increasing crime, a worrying trend that is often overlooked. Policy responses prioritise rescue, relief, and...

www.newagebd.net

How climate change rewrites crimes along coast
Abrar-Bin-Shoukat Alvi 18 June, 2025, 00:00

IN THE at-risk southern region of Bangladesh, fierce winds and rising rivers cause more than just home and farmland damage. Climate change, poverty, and social disintegration are quietly increasing crime, a worrying trend that is often overlooked. Policy responses prioritise rescue, relief, and infrastructure repair, but climate change-induced criminality is neglected. Satkhira officials saw an increase in thefts of livestock and emergency supplies after Cyclone Amphan in 2020. A 13-year-old girl disappeared from a cyclone shelter in Dacope, Khulna, during the 2021 monsoon season, sparking speculation about abduction and trafficking. Sarankhola Upazila residents in Bagerhat are increasingly turning to illegal activities like logging and poaching to survive land degradation. Lawlessness is rising alongside climate disasters. These issues are still ignored in disaster planning, turning this emerging crisis into a silent epidemic.

Criminological breakdown: theories behind the trend

CRIMINOLOGICAL insights are significant in this context. Academics have consistently contended that instability, scarcity, and inadequate institutional oversight exacerbate criminal activity. Shaw and McKay’s Social Disorganisation Theory illustrates the increase in crime when both formal and informal social controls are ineffective. In the congested cyclone shelters of Satkhira and Khulna, where privacy is limited and law enforcement is lacking, incidents of molestation and harassment targeting women and young girls have escalated.

Cohen and Felson’s Routine Activity Theory posits that crime is most probable when three conditions are satisfied: a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of a capable guardian. All three are frequently encountered following a disaster. Dispersed, at-risk families are susceptible targets. In the absence of patrols or shelter oversight, particularly during nighttime, numerous individuals are susceptible to minor theft and abduction.

Merton’s Strain Theory elucidates how societal pressures and restricted access to legitimate opportunities may compel individuals to pursue criminal alternatives. Saltwater intrusion has devastated shrimp farms in southern Bangladesh, while storms have obliterated fishing nets. A significant number lack income. In this void, illegal logging, wildlife poaching, and trafficking emerge as means of survival.

Patterns in crime: data and local trends

FIELD research in disaster-prone areas shows that molestation is the most reported crime after a disaster, peaking in October during shelter overcrowding. Lack of supervision, drug abuse, and poverty contribute. Theft, especially of relief materials, livestock, and boats after floods, is another trend. Most disturbing is the rise in child trafficking. Khulna and Satkhira reports show a sharp rise in missing children after major climate events, many of whom are trafficked into cities or across borders.

After the disaster, crime mapping shows Maheswaripur in Khulna, Hazarkhali in Bagerhat, and Gabura in Satkhira as hotspots. Crime thrives in these areas due to resource scarcity, weak institutions, and climatic shocks.

Human stories and local insights

PERSONAL stories show this crisis. Fatema Begum of Dacope, Khulna, recalls the night her daughter disappeared in the 2021 floods. Our school was crowded after the flooding. Police and door locks were absent. She said, ‘My daughter just disappeared one night. Hundreds of families watch their children disappear into trafficking networks.

Local police recognise the gap. ‘During disasters, we’re spread thin,’ said a police officer in Satkhira. He added, ‘Rescue and logistics are our top priorities. Since staff and resources are scarce, crime prevention is neglected.’

Young people may be most at risk. Closing schools and losing jobs make many youth vulnerable to influence. Others commit petty theft or join organised smuggling networks along Bangladesh’s porous southern borders.

Economic trigger

THESE trends are driven by devastating economic losses. Research by RSIS International (2023) found that per-household damage averages BDT 12,368.82 for housing, 14,887.34 for crops, 14,345.21 for property, and an astonishing 35,916.66 for business. These numbers represent broken lives, abandoned livelihoods, and a community falling deeper into poverty with each storm.

Limited long-term rehabilitation worsens the situation. After a disaster, crime cycles thrive without stable employment, education, and mental health services. Desperation becomes deviant behaviour, and temporary coping mechanisms become permanent threats to social order as poverty grows and state support is patchy.

Policy gaps and urgent needs

BANGLADESH rarely prioritises crime prevention in its disaster response framework, despite the crisis. Shelters lack basic security. The ministry of disaster management and the ministry of home affairs lack coordination. No systematic data collection exists for climate change-related crimes, making targeted policies harder to implement.

Integrating criminological perspective into climate response

BANGLADESH must rethink disaster response criminologically to address the following complex issues: 1) Incorporate crime prevention into national disaster plans, such as mobile policing, surveillance, and gender-sensitive shelter supervision. 2) Enable local youth and NGOs to serve as community watchers during disaster recovery, addressing enforcement gaps. 3) Enhance border control to reduce trafficking, particularly in high-risk areas like Satkhira. 4) Promote livelihood restoration through vocational training, microcredit, and psychosocial counselling to reduce stress-related crimes. 5) Support academic research on climate-related crime trends for evidence-based policymaking.

Storm beyond the storm

SOCIAL erosion accelerates with the climate crisis. Environmental vulnerability and rising crime are a reality in southern Bangladesh. We must combine disaster resilience with criminological insight to protect our most vulnerable communities from the next storm of violence, theft, and lost innocence. The next cyclone may destroy more than homes. Broken laws, broken lives, and a new crisis cycle may result. Policy action must be taken immediately.

Abrar-Bin-Shoukat Alvi is a law student at the Bangladesh University of Professionals.​

 

[Saif]

No development project should harm nature: Chief Adviser

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday called for safeguarding natural ecosystems during the execution of development projects. During a meeting at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka, he instructed the officials concerned to ensure that water bodies remain “unharmed and unint

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

No development project should harm nature: Chief Adviser

FE Online Desk
Published :
Jun 18, 2025 21:54
Updated :
Jun 18, 2025 22:54

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday called for safeguarding natural ecosystems during the execution of development projects.

During a meeting at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka, he instructed the officials concerned to ensure that water bodies remain “unharmed and uninterrupted” throughout implementation of the ‘Teknaf to Tetulia Integrated Economic Corridor Development’ project, prepared by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The meeting featured presentations by ADB Country Director for Bangladesh, Hoe Yun Jeong, and officials from the Economic Relations Division (ERD), who detailed the vision, strategy, and implementation process of the corridor project, reports BSS.

The initiative aims to facilitate inclusive and sustainable economic transformation through an integrated approach to infrastructure, industrial growth, logistics, and regional connectivity along Bangladesh’s southeast-to-northwest transport network.

Key attendees included Road Transport and Bridges Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, Principal Coordinator for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Affairs Lamiya Morshed and Principal Secretary Siraj Uddin Mia.

Chief Adviser Prof Yunus underscored three critical focal points for the project: preservation of water bodies, consideration of population distribution, and enhancement of international connectivity.

“We must remember that Bangladesh is a delta. We don’t want to interrupt our water flow. Our first priority is our rivers. We would go all the way in a different direction if it’s necessary,” he stated.

“We must keep in mind the location of our population when it comes to any construction. Ours is a flood-prone country. So, we need to work in a way that ensures the river doesn’t get clogged,” the Chief Adviser said.

“We must avoid building roads in locations that would worsen the flood situation. During floods, people try to find safety on roads, bridges, and railways. So, it’s not just a bridge; it’s people’s safety as well,” he added.

“And the third thing is international connectivity. We want to create an investment hub here. So, make sure that roads don’t stop here. We also want to connect neighboring countries, including Nepal and Bhutan. Because that’s the future,” Prof Yunus said.

He further stated, “We are the children of nature. We don’t want to destroy it. We want to live in it.”

To ensure environmental considerations are integral to the project, the Chief Adviser directed the team to include water experts and develop a comprehensive master plan.

Adviser Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan highlighted the importance of environmentally conscious development.

“We need to build our projects without harming nature. We’ve seen the negative consequences, like the massive road in the haor region that ultimately devastated the local ecosystem and led to severe flooding for residents,” he said.

The ‘Teknaf to Tetulia Integrated Economic Corridor Development’ project represents a significant step towards sustainable infrastructure development in Bangladesh, balancing economic growth with ecological preservation.​

 

[Saif]

Hilsa threatened by microplastics

The hilsa is a gourmet's delight for its unique taste, distinctive flavour and high nutritional value. It is not just a great delicacy but a symbol of national pride, feted as the national fish. Bangladesh takes pride as the world's largest hilsa-producing country, with this aquatic treasure largel

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Hilsa threatened by microplastics

Atiqul Kabir Tuhin
Published :
Jun 19, 2025 00:01
Updated :
Jun 19, 2025 00:01

The hilsa is a gourmet's delight for its unique taste, distinctive flavour and high nutritional value. It is not just a great delicacy but a symbol of national pride, feted as the national fish. Bangladesh takes pride as the world's largest hilsa-producing country, with this aquatic treasure largely being exclusive to the region's rivers and coastal waters. But how would you feel if this most sought-after and beloved fish species falls victim to pollution? Deeply shocked and dismayed? Well, that's precisely what has happened. Researchers from the University of Dhaka and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology found microplastic particles in hilsa caught at river mouths in Bangladesh. Moreover, they also detected harmful heavy metals like cadmium, lead, mercury, and arsenic in the fish. This poses not only a serious existential threat to the hilsa population but also a grave risk to human health and national food security.

Led by Professor Gawsia Wahidunnessa Chowdhury of Dhaka University, the study found plastic particles smaller than 5 millimetres - known as microplastics - lodged in the intestines, liver, and even muscle tissues of the fish. These particles originate from common plastic waste such as bags, bottles, synthetic clothing fibres, tyre residue, and even cosmetics. Once they enter rivers and oceans, fish ingest them either directly or through the food chain.

Contamination of hilsa lends credence to the United Nation's warning that without urgent action microplastics will infiltrate every ecosystem on Earth, including the human body. Currently, the world produces approximately 350 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, and an estimated 12 million tonnes of this plastic ends up in the ocean. And the UN warns that without immediate action, the amount of plastic entering the ocean annually could reach 37 million metric tonnes by 2040. So, apart from climate change, plastic pollution is considered the worst form of environmental threat globally. Considering the gravity of the problem, this year the World Environment Day was observed with the theme of "Ending Plastic Pollution."

In Bangladesh, plastic pollution is growing fast driven by factors such as population growth, urbanisation, and changes in consumer behaviour. According to World Bank study in 2021, Bangladesh's annual per capita plastic consumption in urban areas has tripled from 3.0 kg in 2005 to 9.0 kg in 2020. The rising use of plastic contributes to increased plastic waste, including single-use plastics (SUPs), which easily break down into microplastics and are often dumped into drains, canals, and rivers. This not only blocks drainage systems and causes flooding or waterlogging, but also poses a significant risk to aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity.

To tackle the growing plastic pollution, polythene and polypropylene bags were banned over two decades ago. However, the ban was never strictly enforced. Stakeholders have often cited the lack of alternatives, public unawareness, black-market activity, and weak regulatory enforcement as key reasons for the failure to ban single-use plastic. The interim government has made a renewed attempt to impose a ban on polythene bags in supermarkets from October 1, 2024, and set a phased target to eliminate other single-use plastics. While the government's initiative is commendable, enforcement remains a critical challenge. Laws alone cannot solve the problem. What is urgently needed is the large-scale production and marketing of alternative jute and paper bags, along with efforts to bring about behavioural change among the public.

In this regard, BRAC University's ambitious initiative to eliminate single-use plastic is not only worth-mentioning but highly commendable. The university aims to transform itself into a zero-waste, plastic-free campus through enhanced recycling programmes, the elimination of single-use plastics, and the promotion of sustainable alternatives. This proactive step by an educational institution serves as a powerful example. Other universities, as well as various public and private institutions, would do well to follow suit. They can promote a plastic-free work environment by banning single-use plastics and replacing them with sustainable alternatives such as glass, metal, or paper products. Chief Adviser's office has already adopted such practice, setting a positive example for others to follow.

However, the solution does not solely rest on individual or institutional goodwill. The government should effect a paradigm shift in its approach to waste management, recycling infrastructure, and the production of sustainable alternatives. Institutional capacity in these areas will significantly influence the broader economy, investor confidence, and consumer habits.

At present, only a small fraction of plastic waste is properly disposed of or recycled owing to inadequate collection systems, poor waste segregation, and insufficient recycling facilities. Experts are of the view that segregation at the source must be made mandatory, particularly in rapidly growing urban centres like Dhaka and Chattogram. Smart recycling hubs with integrated systems for collection, sorting, and reuse should be developed. Here, government policy, private innovation, and civic participation must go hand in hand.

Then, the financial institutions have a critical role to play to help accelerate the transition towards environmental sustainability. According to Bangladesh Bank, banks and financial institutions disbursed approximately Tk 1.17 trillion in sustainable financing during the April-June quarter of 2024, which is significantly more than what was disbursed in the previous quarter. If such financing is strategically channelled into eco-friendly, technology-driven, and plastic-alternative ventures, it could yield enormous social and environmental benefits. Here it is noteworthy that Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) provides easy access to finance for small entrepreneurs engaged in producing biodegradable products. Bangladesh could implement similar incentives through the SME Foundation and SME units of commercial banks.

In a word, individuals, families, communities, businesses, and governments all have a role to play in the fight against pollution. Failure to act will allow it to continue choking our rivers, endangering marine life, and threatening public health, where even the treasured national symbols, like the hilsa, become a casualty.

​

 

[Saif]

WASH budget cut deepens inequality, threatens safe water access: Experts

Experts have warned that the declining budget allocation for Bangladesh's Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector could severely undermine efforts to guarantee citizens' constitutional rights to safe water and sanitation. The concern was raised during the launch of a joint policy brief by the

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

WASH budget cut deepens inequality, threatens safe water access: Experts
Budget fell from Tk 182.28b in FY 23 to a proposed Tk 109.01b for FY 26

FE REPORT
Published :
Jun 18, 2025 09:02
Updated :
Jun 18, 2025 09:02

Experts have warned that the declining budget allocation for Bangladesh's Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector could severely undermine efforts to guarantee citizens' constitutional rights to safe water and sanitation.

The concern was raised during the launch of a joint policy brief by the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) and WaterAid Bangladesh at a press conference held at the PPRC office in the capital's Dhanmondi area on Tuesday.

The policy brief highlighted a sharp fall in WASH allocations, dropping from a peak of Tk 182.28 billion in FY2022-23 to a proposed Tk 109.01 billion for FY2025-26.

Although the figure reflects a slight increase from the revised budget of Tk 91.41 billion in FY2024-25, experts say it remains insufficient given the country's mounting WASH challenges.

"The downward trend in allocation undermines the state's commitment to guaranteeing access to water and sanitation," said Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, executive chairman of PPRC.

"Water and sanitation are not merely technical concerns; they are fundamental human rights, essential for health, dignity, and climate resilience."

Disparities in the proposed allocation also drew criticism.

Dhaka WASA alone is slated to receive over Tk 31.4 billion, while the Department of Public Health Engineering, tasked with ensuring national WASH coverage - especially in rural and underserved areas - faces a reduction in funds.

Only seven out of 12 city corporations received allocations in the proposed budget, leaving out major cities such as Rajshahi, Rangpur, Cumilla, and Sylhet.

Within urban areas, Dhaka North and Gazipur continue to receive disproportionately high shares, exacerbating intra-urban inequalities.

Partha Hefaz Shaikh, director of Programme and Policy Advocacy at WaterAid Bangladesh, said, "Despite commendable progress in eliminating open defecation, the WASH sector still faces inefficiencies in water quality, sanitation infrastructure, and the added burden of climate change."

While the budget includes promising signs for areas like Fecal Sludge Management (FSM) and climate adaptation, allocations for essential services such as water supply and sanitation infrastructure have declined.

Rural and hard-to-reach regions, including the chars, remain largely excluded from meaningful investment, the brief noted.

Representatives from various partner NGOs also attended the event and called for a more inclusive and equitable distribution of resources that reflects the scale of needs across both urban and rural Bangladesh.​