Local people have promised to avoid using plastic products and polythene bags to ensure a pollution-free environment in their village under Char Biswas union in Galachipa upazila of Patuakhali.

They made the vow at a discussion held at the Bashundhara Shuvosangho School on Sunday. The organisation’s Char Biswas union unit organised the event.

Speakers at the programme emphasised that only their awareness can keep the village free from harmful plastics.

They said they must be aware of the impacts of plastics which cause health problems, including increasing the risk of cancer.

They vow to stop littering plastic products and polythene bags and dumping those into the River Tetulia adjacent to their village.

Bashundhara Shuvosangho members Bidhan Chandra Roy, Md Nayeem Ahsan, Md Saiful Islam, Gono Odhikar Parishad activist Md Saidul Gazi and the party’s young wing Jubo Odhikar Parishad President Md Ilias Akon, local BNP leader Md Abu Zafar Khan and activist Md Al Amin Shikder, social activists Md Liton Hawlader and Md Idris Akon were present among others.