Cox’s bazar: A day-long ‘Plastic Exchange’ program was held in Cox’s Bazar town on Monday, aiming to combat marine plastic pollution. During the event, 500 marginal families from the sea beach area received food items worth Taka 3 lakh in exchange for discarded plastic.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the initiative was launched by the Bidyananda Foundation with support from the Cox’s Bazar District Administration. The program aims to raise awareness about plastic pollution while promoting recycling and supporting underprivileged families. Deputy Commissioner Md. Abdul Mannan inaugurated the program as the chief guest at Coastal Samiti Para in Cox’s Bazar town at 11 am.
Under the exchange scheme, participants received various food items based on the amount of plastic they submitted. The exchange included 6 eggs for 1 kg of plastic, 1 kg of rice for 1 kg of plastic, 1 liter of oil for 5 kg of plastic, and 1 kg of lentils for 2 kg of plastic. Organizers stated that all the collected plastic would be recycled by the Bidyananda Foundation, contributing to a cleaner coastal environment.
DC Abdul Mannan highlighted that the district administration and Bidyananda Foundation are working together to protect Cox’s Bazar’s biodiversity and environment from plastic pollution. He emphasized that the initiative supports marginalized families with essential food supplies. Jamal Uddin, Director of Bidyananda Foundation, noted that the organization has been running the program since 2022, with a goal of collecting and recycling 2 lakh kg of marine plastic within four months each year in Cox’s Bazar and St. Martin’s Island.
Jamal Uddin further mentioned that they have collected 27,000 kg of waste plastic this season alone, and since 2022, more than 3 lakh kg of plastic has been collected and recycled voluntarily.
Beneficiaries expressed satisfaction with the initiative, noting that they had been collecting abandoned plastic from the seashore for a week after hearing announcements about the event. Many families said the food items they received would provide much-needed support amid rising market prices.
Organizers hope that the ‘Plastic Exchange’ program will inspire communities to participate in waste management efforts and help protect the marine ecosystem of Cox’s Bazar.