Environmental activists and experts on Wednesday urged an immediate ban on single-use plastic with strict enforcement across the country.

They urged this at a policy dialogue on “Plastic Pollution towards Plastic Treaty Negotiation” held at Shoilopropat conference room of Parjaton Bhaban at Agargaon in the capital.

“Reducing plastic pollution requires collaboration between the government and the public, eventually leading to a global agreement. We need to stop the use of single-use plastic as it contributes to climate change more,” he said.

Syed Marghub Murshed, Chairperson of Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO), said, “It is quite alarming that Bangladesh is one of the most plastic-polluted nations in South Asia."

Selim Reza, Chief Executive Officer of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), said, “Segregating plastic waste at its main source is the vital first step towards a cleaner future. By sorting today, we sow the seeds of sustainability, nurturing a world where plastic's potential harm is curtailed. To make a greater positive change, we must act right now.”

Bangladesh Plastic Association’s President, Shamim Ahmed, said the global demand for single-use plastics has risen significantly over the past few decades.

However, the detrimental impact of single-use plastics on the environment has become increasingly evident, prompting a pressing need to shift towards more sustainable alternatives, he said.

Last year, a study of ESDO revealed that each day, 18 transboundary rivers in Bangladesh carry approximately 15,345 tonnes of single-use plastic waste of which 2802 tonnes originate from India and Myanmar.

Of them, 2519 tonnes come from India and 284 tonnes from Myanmar. Approximately 2.6 million tonnes of single-use plastic waste enter our Bay of Bengal every year, of which nearly half a million tons are transboundary wastes.