Plastic crisis triggers river in N’ganj
The Shitalakkhya River used to be rich in fish resources, but today there are hardly any fish there, said Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) Administrator Advocate Sakhawat Hossain Khan.
He made these remarks on Thursday at a discussion meeting on raising awareness about plastic waste management organised by the environmental organisation Practical Action at the conference room of the Nagar Bhaban.
“Our future generations are already cursing us. If we fail to take action now, they will curse us even more. Therefore, awareness programs must be carried out in different areas of Narayanganj,” he added.
Ten to fifteen years ago, fishermen regularly caught fish in the river.
To restore that situation, we are currently excavating a canal, where tons of plastic bags have been found. NCC has previously taken various initiatives regarding plastic management. Urgent steps will be taken to prevent plastic pollution in Narayanganj.”
He further said that plastic has become a part of our daily lives. It is not possible to completely eliminate it from society at this moment. However, everyone must work together to reduce or eliminate its harmful effects.
Practical Action Country Director Ishrat Shabnam said, “Narayanganj faces significant risks due to climate change. Waste management is directly affecting our lives. If we fail to save our rivers, we will face serious consequences.”
She also said that the use of plastic in daily life has increased so much that nature is gradually moving away from us. Microplastics have now become so widespread that they are even being found in human embryos and brains.
Therefore, people must become more aware about the use of plastic. However, plastic should not only be seen as waste but also as a recyclable resource.
The meeting was presided over by NCC Chief Executive Officer Md. Nur Kutubul Alam and moderated by urban planner Moinul Islam. Special guests included NCC Supervising Engineer Md. Azgar Hossain, co-founder of Narayanganj Photographic Club and photographer Joy K. Roy Chowdhury, and founder of Moin Foundation and artist Muntasir Moin, among others.
Experts suggest that to tackle microplastic pollution and ensure recycling and reuse of plastic, Practical Action is producing pyrolysis oil and various plastic-based products.
As part of the project titled “People’s Adaptation Planning for Climate-Resilient Urban Services,” awareness programs on plastic waste management were organized on March 11 and 12. On the first day, a discussion meeting was held with NCC sanitation workers.
In addition, essay writing, painting, and photography competitions for students were organized at Narayanganj City Park. On Thursday, the NCC administrator distributed certificates and prizes among the winners.
