Own reporter: 3000 tons of plastic are used in the country every day. Of these, single-use plastics account for the highest number. Most of the plastic is used by beverage companies. Therefore, to prevent environmental pollution, it is necessary to impose an additional tax on the import of raw materials for plastic production, including polyethylene. This will at least reduce the multi-dimensional use of plastic. At the same time, the government should play a role in stopping the use of plastic by multinational companies.
On Monday (June 5), the panelists said these things at the World Environment Day discussion meeting at Chittagong Shilpakala Academy Auditorium. Dr. Professor of Geography and Environment Department of Chittagong University presented the main article in the Environment Day discussion meeting organized under the theme ‘To solve plastic pollution, everyone joins us’. Alak Pal
At this time, he said, about 5,000 companies or institutions produce plastic or polythene in the country, and 1.2 million people are directly involved in this production. Which is reflected in our environment. Of these, single-use plastics account for the highest number. Most of the plastic is used by beverage companies. He said that to prevent environmental pollution, it is necessary to impose an additional tax on the import of raw materials for plastic production, including polythene. This will at least reduce the multi-dimensional use of plastic. At the same time, the government should play a role in stopping the use of plastic by multinational companies.
Professor Alok Pal said that in our country, only 20 rupees worth of polythene is given to buy things. Due to non-biodegradable plastic and polythene, our cities are turning into garbage dumps. It is not possible to completely stop the use of plastic in the present context. But its use should be greatly reduced. Meanwhile, many countries, including India, have taken various initiatives to reduce the use of plastic. They are using jute bags instead of polythene for daily work, including markets. He emphasized investment in waste management.
Chittagong Divisional Commissioner said in the speech of the chief guest Md. Aminur Rahman said that an average of 2,500 tons of waste are generated in Chittagong every day. About 8 percent of this is plastic waste. Which falls into our canals. When the monsoon comes, we suffer its bad effects constantly. But still, our awareness does not increase, which is very sad. Referring to the data of a survey, he said that 2.6 lakh metric tons of plastic waste were found in the Bay of Bengal in the last year.
He also said that the impact of the global climate has started to fall. Climate change is caused by not having rain in the monsoon season or feeling cold in the winter. So, if we cannot prevent environmental pollution, we will face a climate threat in the future. The Chittagong district administration will start work to build a plastic-free city on July 1. We become aware of ourselves today without sitting for it.
Additional DIG Mahfuzur Rahman, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Faisal Mahmud, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Rakib Hasan, and others addressed the event under the chairmanship of Director of Chittagong Environment Department (Metro) Hillol Biswas. Before the meeting, the officials of the Department of Environment and the guests inaugurated World Environment Day by blowing balloons on the premises of Shilpakala Academy.
