President M Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday laid emphasis on proper management of plastic waste aiming to make the country’s environment free from plastic pollution. The President and the Prime Minister issued separate messages on the occasion of the World Environment Day-2018. This year’s theme of the day is ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’.
In his message, President Hamid said the environmental pollution, triggered by worldwide industrialisation and urbanisation, is on the rise. The adverse impacts of environmental pollution are visible in different sectors, he said, observing that polythene and plastic are the main components of environmental pollution.
Although Bangladesh is known as a user of natural products, the use of plastic is increasing here day by day, the President said. “That is why proper management of plastic waste is a must.”
In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said about 10 percent of total waste produced per day is plastic waste.
Noting that about 500 billion plastic bags are used every year across the world, the premier said of those, eight million tonnes of wastes are disposed to sea, causing deaths to one million marine birds and one lakh marine mammals.
“Due to excessive use and production of plastic, ecological balance is being damaged,” she said, adding that the reuse and recycle of plastic is an urgent now to protect environment.
Referring to various steps taken by the government to protect the country’s environment and nature, the Prime Minister said: “The Awami League government is going forward attaching the highest priority to the protection of nature and environment aiming to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) declared by the United Nations.”
“We’ve amended the ‘Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act 1995’ in 2010 putting restriction on production, transportation, storage and use of polythene shopping bags,” Sheikh Hasina said. “The use of jute bags instead of polythene for packaging 17 commodities is made compulsory,” she said. The Prime Minister hoped that public awareness and public involvement in protecting environment and ecology will be increased by observing the World Environment Day.
