DoE, UNIDO campaign for sustainable plastic use in Sylhet
The Department of Environment (DoE), Sylhet Divisional Office, in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), organised a seminar and clean-up campaign entitled "Sustainable Plastic Use and Marine Waste Prevention in Sylhet" at the Office of the Divisional Commissioner, Alampur, Sylhet.
Supported by the Government of Norway, the initiative aimed to raise awareness of sustainable plastic use and to promote responsible environmental practices among local communities.
Khan Md Reza-un-Nabi, Divisional Commissioner, Sylhet, attended the event as chief guest, while Debajit Singh, Additional Commissioner, Sylhet Division, presided over the programme. Other distinguished guests included Md Reza Karim Sarkar, Chief Executive Officer of Sylhet City Corporation; Dr Romel Ahmed and Professor Dr Farzana Rahman of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST); Md Ferdous Anwar, Director of DoE Sylhet Division; and S M Arafat, National Expert, UNIDO Bangladesh.
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The programme began with a clean-up campaign at Jollarpar Canal, with 22 environmental organisations participating. The subsequent seminar focused on sustainable plastic use and marine waste prevention, highlighting the urgency of reducing plastic pollution through community-led initiatives and policy enforcement.
Delivering the keynote address, S M Arafat noted that UNIDO has conducted 36 awareness sessions nationwide and established a medical waste management plant in Sirajganj. He urged citizens to avoid single-use plastics, particularly in tourist destinations such as Sylhet.
Professor Dr Farzana Rahman stated that, on average, a person ingests around 50,000 microplastic particles annually, posing significant health risks. She advocated the use of eco-friendly alternatives such as bamboo, wood, water hyacinth, silicone, and stainless steel, and called for reviving the use of jute—the 'golden fibre' of Bangladesh.
Dr Romel Ahmed emphasised the need for strict enforcement of environmental legislation, while Md Reza Karim Sarkar of Sylhet City Corporation urged citizens to act responsibly in order to build a clean and sustainable Bangladesh.
Chief guest Khan Md Reza-un-Nabi highlighted the importance of adopting the '3R' principles—reduce, reuse, and recycle—and called on importers, producers, and consumers to become more environmentally conscious. He also encouraged young entrepreneurs to develop markets for sustainable alternatives.
Following the clean-up campaign, participants collected a total of 3,875 kilogrammes of plastic waste from the Jollarpar Canal area, pledging to continue their efforts to protect the environment.
