By Selina Sheuly (Dhaka Bureau)
Global plastic pollution has escalated into a terrifying crisis. The uncontrolled use of plastic is striking at three critical levels: nature, climate, and biodiversity. Experts warn that plastic is a substance that ‘has a birth but no death.’ To protect the Earth from this invisible poison, radical changes in lifestyle and the adoption of plastic alternatives have become the need of the hour.
Plastic Pollution: A Threefold Crisis
The unrestricted use of plastic has intensified three major global crises:
1. Climate Crisis: Plastic production and waste incineration release toxic gases into the atmosphere.
2. Environmental Crisis: Rivers, canals, wetlands, and oceans have turned into plastic graveyards, disrupting the natural ecological balance.
3. Loss of Biodiversity: From marine life to land animals, all are now falling victim to microplastics.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) set the theme for World Environment Day 2025 as ‘Ending Plastic Pollution.’ To achieve this goal, the slogan ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ is being promoted worldwide. However, the steps taken internationally to curb this pollution remain questionable.
On August 13, 2025, during the second session of the international meeting on plastic pollution in Geneva, Switzerland, Bangladesh strictly rejected the draft of the proposed Global Plastics Treaty. Bangladesh argued that the draft was ‘weak and inadequate,’ because it failed to include mandatory measures regarding the full life cycle of plastic, health impacts, hazardous chemicals, waste management priorities, and transboundary pollution.
The Reality of Bangladesh: Statistics and Health Risks
Although single-use plastic or polythene was banned in Bangladesh in 2002, its effective implementation remains elusive.
Usage Statistics: According to 2019 data, approximately 87,000 tons of single-use plastic are used annually in Bangladesh. Only 4% reaches landfills, while the remaining 96% is discarded directly into the environment.
Damage to Soil and Public Health: Polythene takes 400-700 years to decompose in soil, destroying the fertility of agricultural land, and furthermore, burning plastic releases carbon monoxide, dioxins, and furans, which cause various diseases, including cancer.
Per Capita Usage: World Bank statistics show that while the global average per capita plastic use is 35 kg, it is less than 5 kg in Bangladesh. Despite this lower usage, the lack of a proper waste management system is leading to a major disaster.
The Path to Recovery: ‘EPR’ and Citizen Resolve
Experts believe that banning plastic through legislation alone is not enough. It requires the implementation of ‘Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)’ guidelines, meaning those who produce plastic products must take responsibility for their waste management.
In addition, individual awareness is crucial. If every citizen makes a firm resolve to abstain from single-use plastic at least one day a week, this massive challenge can be overcome step by step.
Md. Alamgir Kabir, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Environment Save Movement (BAPA), admitted to Pressenza that the ban on prohibited polythene is not being effectively implemented in Bangladesh.
Dr. Ishrat Nazia, Chairperson of the Department of Geography and Environment at Dhaka University, stated, ‘Polythene causes health risks, waterlogging, and disrupts daily life. Plastic does not decompose for hundreds of years. Collective effort is essential for the security of our current and future generations.’
There is no alternative to boycotting plastic to leave a habitable planet for future generations. Only a combined effort- from the family level to the state level- can defeat this toxic plastic menace. The time for resolution is now; the time to stop plastic pollution is now.
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The Author:
Selina Sheuly: Senior Journalist and Contributor, Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau.
