Virtual stakeholder consultation and roundtable meeting were organized by Environment and Social Development Organization-ESDO on 16th February 2022 to discuss the strategy for phasing out Single-Use Plastic (SUP) products. Syed Marghub Murshed, Former Secretary of Bangladesh and President of ESDO dignified the event as the chief guest.

Ms. Keya Khan, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Forest and Climate Change underlined that tourist hotspots and many other places are constantly being polluted with rubbish, including polythene, empty plastic bottles, and packets, left scattered by tourists. 

Jabed Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer (Additional Secretary), of Bangladesh Tourism Board said that Cox’s Bazar and Kuakata is one of the most popular tourist spots not just in Bangladesh but worldwide and these places are being contaminated by plastic frequently.

Among the other respected guests, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh and Chief Executive, BELA; Bangladesh Plastic Association’s President, Mr. Shamim Ahmed; Dr. Shahriar Hossain, Secretary General of ESDO; Shahid Hamid, Pacific Asia Travel Association Bangladesh Chapter; Siddika Sultana, Executive Director of ESDO, Syed Ghulam Qadir, Vice President, Bangladesh Outbound Tour Operators Association – BOTOA and ESDO’s Technical Advisor, Syed Mahbubul Islam Bulu, President, Tourist Guide Association of Bangladesh, M Rezaul Karim, President, Tour Operator Owners Association of Cox’s Bazar -TOAC, respected faculty members from different universities and different electronic and print media journalists were present at the event.