Discussion meeting and cleanup campaign on plastic pollution held in Natore

A discussion meeting and cleanup campaign were held in Natore to raise awareness of plastic pollution and promote proper waste management. Volunteers collected approximately 2180 kilograms of single-use plastic waste during the cleanup near Natore Stadium.

The programme was organised under the “Integrated Approach Towards Sustainable Plastics Use and Marine Litter Prevention in Bangladesh” project, implemented by the Department of Environment (DoE), with technical assistance from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and financial support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Dhaka.

The discussion meeting took place at the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office at 10:30 a.m. Natore Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Ms. Sumani Akhter attended as the chief guest. Asma Khatun, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General), Natore, moderated the meeting.

Representatives of the local administration, UNIDO Bangladesh National Expert S M Arafat, government offices, social and voluntary organisations, Rover Scouts and BD Clean participated alongside students and local residents. Natore Municipal Administrator Shamim Hossain and the Assistant Director of Department of Environment Natore office Mr. Md. Rafiqul Islam were also present.

In his keynote presentation, SM Arafat, National Expert, UNIDO Bangladesh, highlighted the need to address the full life cycle of plastics, from production and consumption to collection, reuse, recycling and final disposal. He emphasised that cleanup campaigns should be supported by continued public awareness activities, changes in everyday waste disposal practices and waste segregation at source. A video featuring UNIDO’s ongoing activities was also screened.

Mehnaz Parveen Mala, Executive Director of COSMOS NGO, and representatives of Rover Scouts and BD Clean called for collective action to prevent plastic pollution. Speakers stressed the need for coordination among government institutions, local authorities, community organisations and the public.

Natore Municipal Administrator Shamim Hossain called for greater public awareness of the proper management of single-use plastics and other waste, including chemical, agricultural and electronic waste.

In her remarks, Ms. Sumani Akhter cited neighbouring Rajshahi as an example of a clean city and called for a cleaner, well-managed Natore. She urged residents to avoid indiscriminate dumping and dispose of waste in designated places, emphasising the importance of individual responsibility and public participation.

Following the meeting, officials and volunteers joined the cleanup campaign near Natore Stadium, where they collected and segregated single-use plastics and other waste. The activities reinforced the meeting’s focus on responsible waste disposal, segregation at source and community participation in preventing plastic pollution.