‘45.55 billion plastic bags used daily’

The government should immediately ban single-use plastic due to its severe threats to people's well-being and the environment, said speakers at a programme yesterday.

Environmentalists, educators, researchers, and rights activists convened in a virtual webinar, titled "Curbing Plastic Pollution: Lessons Learned and Way Forward", organised by Change Initiative.

Speakers informed that Bangladesh ranks among the top 20 countries worldwide contributing to the alarming levels of plastic pollution. Around 45.55 billion polythene bags are used in the country each year. This amounts to an alarming 273 million kilos of single-use plastic consumed annually.

During the event, Saba Sabnam, a research intern from Change Initiative, delivered a presentation.

She highlighted the risks associated with plastic waste in water bodies, such as creating breeding grounds for disease-spreading mosquitoes. She also mentioned the ingestion of microplastics by marine life and the presence of toxic chemicals in contaminated seafood.

Maruf Hossain, town manager at UNDP, emphasised the need to reduce the reliance on plastic products and enforce rules where polythene is extensively used.

There is a need for more stringent waste disposal practices and I encourage researchers to investigate polythene alternatives.Shamim Ahmed

— President of BPGMEA

Prof Adil Mohammad Khan of Jahangirnagar University, highlighted the urgency of implementing the government's instructions on single-use plastic.

He said numerous countries have successfully banned such plastics and effective measures must be taken in Bangladesh as well.

Regarding the closure of polythene factories, Adil clarified that the government does not have a direct role in shutting down plastic production facilities. However, he acknowledged the benefits of halting plastic production.

Shamim Ahmed, president of the Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA), stated, "There is a need for more stringent waste disposal practices and I encourage researchers to investigate polythene alternatives."

Speaking as the chief guest, Syeda Rizwana Hassan, chief executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (Bela), highlighted the easy availability of plastic products and stressed the importance of collective efforts to abandon them.

She suggested that although a complete ban on all plastic products may be challenging, eliminating single-use plastic within a year is entirely feasible for the government.

Change Initiative's advisor Ibnul Syed Rana presided over the programme, while around a dozen of rights activist and researchers spoke at the discussion.