A discussion meeting and clean-up campaign were held in Sirajganj to address plastic pollution, promote the responsible use of single-use plastics and strengthen environmentally sound waste management. The discussion meeting took place at the conference room of the Sirajganj Deputy Commissioner’s Office on Monday, followed by a clean-up drive on the premises of Sirajganj Medical College. Approximately 875.6 kg of singleuse plastic waste was collected during the campaign.
The programme was organised under the project titled “Integrated Approach Towards Sustainable Plastics Use and Marine Litter Prevention in Bangladesh,” implemented by the Department of Environment (DoE), Government of Bangladesh, with technical assistance from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and financial support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bangladesh.
Md. Aminul Islam, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Sirajganj, attended the event as the chief guest. Other attendees included Dr. Taslima Jannat, Deputy Civil Surgeon; Ganapati Roy, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General); Mosammat Afsana Yasmin, Chief Executive Officer of the District Council; Dr. Md. Sajjad Kabir, Assistant Director of Sirajganj Medical College; Dr. Md. Shimul Talukder, Resident Medical Officer of Sirajganj Sadar Hospital; and S. M. Arafat, National Expert of UNIDO Bangladesh. Tuhin Alam, Assistant Director of the DoE’s Sirajganj District Office, chaired the meeting.
At the beginning of the discussion, S. M. Arafat outlined the project’s goals, objectives and activities. He emphasised the importance of following the 3Rs—Reduce, Reuse and Recycle—to minimise plastic consumption and improve waste management. He also urged people to dispose of waste in designated places rather than dump it indiscriminately, and to segregate it at its source. Highlighting the need for effective management of plastic and biomedical waste, he called for coordinated action across all sectors, including healthcare, to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment.
Representatives from the local administration, healthcare institutions, voluntary organisations, educational institutions and other relevant sectors participated in the meeting. Discussions focused on improving public awareness, strengthening plastic waste collection and segregation, and encouraging collective action by public and private institutions and local communities to protect the environment. Following the discussion, invited guests inaugurated the clean-up campaign on the premises of Sirajganj Medical College. Necessary cleaning equipment was distributed among participants.
Officials and representatives from the Department of Environment, UNIDO and the local administration joined students, volunteers and local residents in the clean-up activities. The campaign highlighted the environmental risks associated with excessive plastic use and indiscriminate waste disposal. Participants were encouraged to dispose of waste properly, collect recyclable materials separately and reduce the unnecessary use of single-use plastics.
The organisers expressed hope that such initiatives would strengthen public engagement in environmental protection and promote responsible waste management at the local level. They also underscored the importance of sustained collaboration among government agencies, local communities, educational institutions, businesses and voluntary organisations in building a cleaner and healthier environment.