Netrokona hosts clean-up drive and dialogue on sustainable plastic use

A day-long clean-up campaign and stakeholder consultation was held at the Public Hall in Netrokona today, as part of an ongoing mass awareness initiative jointly led by the Department of Environment and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), with support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Dhaka.

The event falls under the broader framework of the project titled "Integrated Approach Towards Sustainable Plastics Use and Marine Litter Prevention in Bangladesh."

Mr Rafiquzzaman, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) of Netrokona, attended the programme as the chief guest, while Deputy Commissioner Banani Biswas inaugurated the day's activities earlier in the morning by administering an oath to local youth volunteers and launching a hands-on waste collection drive.

"Initiatives like these are essential in building awareness and responsibility among citizens," said Mr Rafiquzzaman. "No regulation can succeed without the active participation of the community. I believe the young people of Netrokona will play a vital role in promoting sustainable behaviour and keeping our environment clean for future generations."

S M Arafat, National Expert at UNIDO, underscored the importance of adopting the 3Rs—Reduce, Reuse and Recycle—to combat plastic pollution. He cited Cox's Bazar as an example of community-led environmental success, and expressed hope that Netrokona's youth would bring similar impact, particularly along the town's riverbanks.

Mr Kamal Hossain Talukder, Director of the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) under the Ministry of Planning and guest of honour, urged young participants to take up leadership in tackling plastic waste and to inspire their peers towards environmental responsibility.

From the local community, Wahidur Rahman, Coordinator of environmental NGO BARCIK, highlighted that beyond slogans and policy, students used graffiti and mural art to express their vision for a cleaner, greener Bangladesh—a gesture that resonated with many attendees.

In his closing remarks, Abdullah Al Matin, Assistant Director at the Department of Environment, encouraged the volunteers to turn their enthusiasm into a lasting legacy of ecological stewardship.

The clean-up campaign collected approximately 800 kilograms of single-use plastic waste from key spots including Ananda Bazar, Nagra Bridge and Mutapara.