Post-Eid Clean-up Drive: UNDP to help plastic waste decline

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Bangladesh held a three-day post-Eid coastal clean-up awareness campaign in Cox’s Bazar, concluded today under the Plastic Circularity Project and the Cox’s Bazar district administration support.

The campaign aims to address the surge in plastic waste generated on the beach during the Eid holiday period, promote responsible waste management practices, and protect the marine ecosystem and tourism economy of the world’s longest natural sea beach.

The official inauguration will take place at 11am on 24 March at Laboni Point in Cox’s Bazar, with activities to be carried out at both Laboni and Sugandha points.

Among those expected to attend are Deputy Commissioner of Cox’s Bazar Md A Mannan, Administrator of Cox’s Bazar Municipality Md Shamsul Al Imran, and Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh Sardar M Asaduzzaman, along with other guests.

The campaign will include awareness rallies, direct engagement with tourists, businesses, shop owners and hotel operators, as well as the installation of new waste bins at key entry points.

Each day, 30 youth volunteers and 20 sanitation workers will be deployed to collect, sort and measure plastic waste before handing it over to local recyclers.

As part of longer-term support, a total of 30 waste bins will be formally handed over to the Tourist Police.
UNDP Bangladesh and its partners said they expect the initiative to help visibly reduce plastic waste on the beach after Eid, raise public awareness, and strengthen coordination among stakeholders involved in tourism and waste management.