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Environment and Social Development Organization – ESDO is successfully running community mobilization and awareness-raising campaigns. We initiated the “Anti-Polythene/Plastic Campaign” in 1990, which resulted in a complete ban on polythene shopping bags throughout Bangladesh. This campaign has been replicated around the globe—in India, Japan, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand, France, Nigeria, Egypt, the USA, and Australia.

ESDO is working to raise awareness among the people about the adverse effects of dental amalgam on human health and the environment as well. It successfully compelled the government of Bangladesh to ratify the Minamata Convention. ESDO promotes environmental education and mass awareness about the harmful effects of mercury-containing dental amalgam and lead in paints. ESDO is implementing a campaign in Narayanganj – Munshiganj to address current lifestyle practices to ensure sustainability, self-reliance, and conservation.

ESDO has popularized the sustainable management of natural resources and helped raise awareness of biodiversity conservation among the villagers. The initiative has made individuals and communities more aware of the need to protect the environment by combating health problems, food shortages, and dependency. ESDO has run community forestry programs where we not only helped the community tree plantations but ensured that knowledge relating to the need for land rehabilitation, including the use of particular plant species, was shared. ESDO also involves youth in the environmental movement by ensuring environmental education through different organizational frameworks.

Training and Capacity Building is one of the ESDO’s main activities and a significant source of income. Every year the organization provides training and capacity-building programs for NGO staff and government representatives on various issues, particularly related to environmental management and advocacy. Secretary General of ESDO Dr. Shahriar Hossain is the Official Country Representative of Advocacy Institute (AI), Washington D. C. USA.

ESDO also has experience working in Cox’s Bazaar and Teknaf. Our project conducted in the area from 1999 to 2000 was primarily an awareness-raising campaign on the importance of seabeach protection and marine life conservation. Approximately 1,500 people were directly involved, but it is estimated that 7,500 individuals benefited indirectly. The project was geared towards students of schools and colleges.

ESDO has initiated community-based sustainable eco-tourism in the northern part of Bangladesh. Already experienced with the foreign guest through the village community at Hatiandha village in Natore District introduced the homestay program.

To Approach a zero-waste community and sustainable environment, ESDO started a new project in Dhaka and Rangpur. In Rangpur it is in 25 no. ward union and Betgari union on Gangachara upazila, Rangpur since 2020.