Experts call for coordinated action on solid waste at DOE seminar
A thematic session on "Sustainable Management of Solid Waste: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Way Forward" was held today at the Department of Environment (DoE) seminar hall in Agargaon as part of a three-day national seminar marking World Environment Day 2025.
The session, convened by WaterAid Bangladesh in collaboration with the DoE and partners, including the Swiss Red Cross, Bangladesh Petrochemical Company Limited (BPCL), WEEE Society Bangladesh and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, aimed to address the escalating crisis of solid waste in Bangladesh. It was held under the Swiss-supported GO4IMPact programme, jointly implemented by the WaterAid–Swisscontact consortium.
Mohammad Navid Safiullah, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, attended as the chief guest. Dr Md Sohrab Ali, Additional Director General of the DoE, chaired the session. Hasin Jahan, Country Director of WaterAid Bangladesh, delivered the welcome speech.
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In his address, Navid Safiullah emphasised the need for a three-pronged approach to waste management: mass public awareness, vigorous regulatory enforcement and institutional leadership. Hasin Jahan noted that "waste solutions must go beyond bins", advocating for behaviour change and circular practices. Dr Sohrab Ali echoed the call for coordinated action, while Shirin Sultana Lira of the Swiss Embassy stressed the importance of collaboration for a cleaner and climate-resilient future.
The keynote presentation was delivered by Saief Manzoor-Al-Islam, Team Leader of the GO4IMPact programme, who identified policy gaps and offered strategic directions for integrated waste management. Other speakers shared practical experiences, including Khadem Mahmud Yusuf (BPCL) on plastic waste, Kamalendu Das (Swiss Red Cross) on organic waste, and Dr Md—Mostafa Akbar (WEEE Society) on e-waste.
A high-level panel discussion explored the roles of youth, local government, development partners and the private sector in enabling sustainable waste solutions. Speakers included Razinara Begum (DoE), Dr Tariq Bin Yousuf (LGED), Sumaiya Tabassum (Pran RFL), Shirin Sultana Lira (Swiss Embassy), and youth representative Abrar Jahin Raein (TIB YES Group).
An open floor discussion followed, drawing diverse insights on strengthening waste governance, infrastructure and stakeholder engagement. The session concluded with a vote of thanks from Partha Hefaz Shaikh, Director of Programmes and Policy Advocacy at WaterAid Bangladesh.
