Dhaka 22nd January 2023: To ensure a sustainable environment the Environment and Social Development Organization-ESDO initiated a project “Plastic-Free Campus”. For this perspective, an inception workshop was officially initiated yesterday Sunday in Dhaka. This initiative aims to build second-generation leadership, inform the young generation of the toxicity of plastic, and prepare young students to refuse single-use plastic.
Habibun Nahar, MP, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change graced the event as chief guest. Officially inaugurating the project, she said, “Plastic pollution is one of the environmental problems in the world, as the increasing production and consumption of single-use plastic products are leading the country to environmental and health problems. She added ESDO and Mutual Trust Bank Limited’s Initiative “Plastic Free Campus” project will help educational institutions fight single-use plastic pollution globally and promote Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Bangladesh. She also added, by raising awareness among children and adolescents about plastics and ensuring environmental sustainability, the next generation of young students will be motivated to reject single-use plastics. This initiative will help reduce the environmental impact of our production and consumption both in Bangladesh and abroad and limit greenhouse gas emissions.”
The event was chaired by Syed Marghub Murshed, respected Chairperson of ESDO and former secretary of the government of Bangladesh. According to him, “Plastic pollution has disastrous consequences not only for the environment but also for human health. Inspiring students to adopt sustainable values and preparing them to refuse single-use plastic will help us construct our future.”
Professor Mohammad Farhadul Islam, Chairman of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) graced the event as a Guest of Honor “This is a wonderful concept to measurably reduce plastic waste and pollution in campuses and NCTB pledges to assist it to be put into practice.”
According to the special guest of the event Md. Moniruzzaman, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change “On a worldwide scale, plastic pollution and single-use plastic packaging poses a threat to our climate. We believe that we can establish a sustainable ecosystem with the stakeholders’ spontaneous engagement.”
Syed Mahbubur Rahman, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of Mutual Trust Bank Limited (MTBL) “MTBL is conscious of the kind of environmental impact having on all aspects of society, including economic, social, and environmental addressing the reduction of plastic pollution as well as the climate crisis. To ensure corporate social responsibility and acknowledge MTBL’s contribution in supporting Bangladesh in achieving the SDGs.”
Chowdhury Akhtar Asif, Additional Managing Director of Mutual Trust Bank Limited, Md. Mahmud Hossain, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, and Anjir Liton, Director General of Bangladesh Shishu Academy among others were present at the event which was held at a local hotel lakeshore in Dhaka. Furthermore, representatives from Government, National, and international organizations, Mutual Trust Bank Limited and Jute Diversification Promotion Centre, universities & schools, girl guides volunteers, media, and ESDO team members were present at the event.
According to the Secretary General of ESDO Dr. Shahriar Hossain, “This Plastic free campus project will be making significant headway in Bangladesh to reduce the use of single-use plastic. We request every-stakeholders should cooperate to implement this project. Since 1990, we have been conducting various activities on plastic pollution and will continue to do so in the future.”
The Executive Director of ESDO Ms, Siddika Sultana, “Plastic products have intricate combinations of hazardous, extractable compounds. The issue of single-use plastic remains to be one of Bangladesh’s most important environmental problems. We should all adopt this way of life to refuse SUP and improve the nation’s sustainability for the benefit of the next generation. Don’t go for a false solution”
The theme presentation was presented by ESDO’s Program Associate Suraiya Akter and Project Associate Jannatul Ferdous Jubly.