Jahangirnagar University urged to become Bangladesh’s first single-use plastic-free university

A seminar titled "Sustainable Plastic Waste Management Practices in Jahangirnagar University (Source Segregation Campaign)" was held at the university's Senate Bhaban on Tuesday, highlighting practical measures to strengthen source segregation, promote sustainable waste management and reduce single-use plastics across the campus.

The programme was organised under the project "Integrated Approach Towards Sustainable Plastics Use and Marine Litter Prevention in Bangladesh", implemented by the Department of Environment, Government of Bangladesh, with technical assistance from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and funding from the Government of Norway, according to a press release.

State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam attended the programme as chief guest, while Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Kamrul Ahsan chaired the event.

Among others, Director of the Student Welfare and Counselling Centre Professor Mohammad Jamal Uddin, Department of Environment Project Director Dr Abdullah Al Mamun, UNIDO Bangladesh Country Representative Alamgir Hossain, UNIDO National Project Coordinator Sattya Bhattacharjee, university teachers, JUCSU representatives, student leaders, training participants and environmentally conscious students attended the seminar.

Addressing the programme, State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam called for making Jahangirnagar University the country's first single-use plastic-free university. He urged the university administration, teachers, students, officials, employees, business operators and other stakeholders to work collectively to prevent plastic pollution.

He said government initiatives and law enforcement alone would not be sufficient to address the challenge. Practical and sustainable measures must be adopted to reduce and gradually eliminate single-use plastics and polythene.

"Making announcements alone will not be enough; institutions, organisations and citizens must take responsibility for implementing decisions in practice," he said.

The state minister emphasised source segregation, proper collection, recycling and reuse as essential components of sustainable plastic waste management. He also highlighted the importance of public awareness and participation, alongside government action, in protecting rivers, canals, water bodies, beaches and other natural ecosystems.

Referring to initiatives in Cox's Bazar and other areas where organic waste is being converted into compost, he said similar waste-to-resource solutions could be replicated across the country.

In his remarks, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Muhammad Kamrul Ahsan said coordinated action would be essential to build a clean and plastic-free campus. He emphasised closer cooperation between government bodies and educational institutions to establish effective and sustainable campus waste management systems.

In his welcome address, Professor Jamal Uddin Ahmed said sustainable plastic waste management was not merely an environmental concern but was directly linked to public health, biodiversity and the wellbeing of future generations.

He called for an integrated approach combining government policies, regulatory measures, public awareness and community participation. He also proposed developing Jahangirnagar University as a pilot model for sustainable plastic waste management, supported by the active participation of producers, consumers, local authorities and the university community.

UNIDO Bangladesh Country Representative Alamgir Hossain reaffirmed the organisation's commitment to supporting Bangladesh in advancing inclusive and sustainable industrial development while addressing the environmental effects of plastic production and consumption.

He said the transition towards a circular economy would require coordinated action across the entire plastics value chain – from product design and production to consumption, collection, recycling and recovery. Universities, he said, have an important role in demonstrating innovative solutions, generating evidence and inspiring behavioural change among young people and wider society.

He highlighted UNIDO's continuing technical support to the Bangladesh government in developing a legal framework for extended producer responsibility, which is intended to strengthen producers' accountability for the post-consumer management of their products and packaging.

"Addressing plastic pollution requires more than isolated interventions. It calls for strong institutions, responsible industry practices, informed consumer choices and partnerships that can translate policy commitments into measurable action," he said.

Praising Jahangirnagar University's rich biodiversity, greenery and active student community, he expressed hope that the university could become Bangladesh's first single-use plastic-free university and provide a scalable model for other higher education institutions.

Dr Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman, adviser to environmental organisation Neer, said administrative decisions alone would not make the university free from plastic pollution. Every department and unit should undertake its own initiatives to reduce plastic use, he said.

He called for eliminating single-use plastics from cultural programmes, alumni events and other campus activities. He expressed hope that coordinated efforts by the government, UNIDO, the Department of Environment, the university administration, students and civil society would transform the campus into an exemplary environmentally sustainable institution.

Student representatives presented several recommendations for improving the campus environment. These included declaring designated areas as "no-horn zones", conducting regular mobile court drives, establishing green barriers along roads near residential halls, closing internal dumping stations and ensuring regular waste removal.

They also called for sustainable systems for plastic waste segregation, collection and recycling, as well as adequate funding for the conservation, excavation and restoration of the university's natural lakes and water bodies.

Speakers observed that Jahangirnagar University's natural environment, biodiversity and greenery made it uniquely suited to becoming a model sustainable campus. They called for institutional measures to control plastic pollution, segregate waste at source, promote recycling and composting, and phase out single-use plastics.

Participants reaffirmed the principles of "reduce, reuse and recycle" and agreed that the successful implementation of source segregation and sustainable plastic waste management at Jahangirnagar University could offer a replicable model for universities across Bangladesh.

The programme concluded with a shared commitment to establishing Jahangirnagar University as Bangladesh's first single-use plastic-free university and gradually expanding source segregation across academic departments, residential halls, offices, shops and other campus facilities.

Speakers expressed optimism that political commitment, institutional leadership, active student participation and continued technical cooperation would enable Jahangirnagar University to emerge as a clean, sustainable and plastic-free model for higher education institutions across Bangladesh.