The Bay of Bengal is on track to receive a staggering five times more plastics in 2025 than it did in 2010, shedding light on the escalating plastic pollution crisis in Bangladesh. Renowned expert Dr. Shahriar Hossain, the founder of ESDO (Eco-Social Development Organization) and executive vice-president of the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry, delivered a keynote paper at the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) in Bangladesh.
During the 8th episode of the “SDG Café,” a monthly roundtable discussion series hosted by UNOPS, the focus was on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 12 & 14), themed “Plastic Pollution and Waste Management in the Marine Environment: Drivers, Impact, and Solutions.”
Dr. Shahriar stressed the need for collective action and collaboration to address root causes and reduce plastic leakage. He emphasized the urgency of engaging all stakeholders to ensure a sustainable and plastic-free future.
Bangladesh, ranking sixth globally for plastic and polythene pollution in water bodies, faces critical environmental challenges. The roundtable underscored the imperative to tackle this issue urgently to achieve Agenda 2030, specifically targeting SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water).
UNOPS Country Manager in Bangladesh, Sudhir Muralidharan, acknowledged the gravity of the situation and emphasized the need for collaborative efforts. With South Asia contributing a staggering 334 million tons of solid waste annually, urgent action is unavoidable, particularly as 70 to 80% of this waste, including 12% plastic, enters oceans.
Charles Callanan, Director of UNOPS South Asia Multi-country Office, highlighted the alarming scale of environmental degradation, calling for a comprehensive circular economy framework. Such a framework, tailored for plastics and spanning multiple sectors, must directly address the root causes of plastic pollution and collaborate with industry stakeholders to establish sustainable supply chains.
The SDG Cafe brought together key stakeholders in Bangladesh, including government officials, international organizations, and development partners. Participants included the Environment Wing Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Department of Disaster Management (DDM), Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Vision, Brac, embassies, UN agencies, and academicians, among others. Stay tuned for updates on collaborative initiatives to combat plastic pollution in the region.
