With the slogan “Say No to Plastic Pollution – The Time to Act Is Now,” a beach cleanup campaign was organized in Cox’s Bazar on the occasion of World Environment Day 2025. The initiative was jointly hosted by Save the Children, Cox’s Bazar District Administration, Cox’s Bazar Municipality, and the Tourist Police, aiming to raise public awareness for a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable environment for future generations.
The day-long campaign took place at the Laboni Point of Cox’s Bazar sea beach. Rubaiya Afroze, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development and Human Resource Management) and Acting Administrator of Cox’s Bazar Municipality, officially inaugurated it and stated, “Initiatives like this remind us of our civic responsibilities. Combating plastic pollution requires participation from everyone. Environmental protection is not just the government’s responsibility—it’s a collective duty. Real change comes when we work together.”
Tourist Police Inspector (TT) Abdul Mukit, also present at the event, emphasized the global significance of Cox’s Bazar as a tourism hub, saying,
“Cox’s Bazar is not just a jewel of Bangladesh, it’s a destination for travelers around the world. For these efforts to succeed, we must also engage tourists in keeping the beach clean. Preserving this natural beauty is a responsibility we all share—for ourselves and for future generations.”
Golam Mostafa, Area Director of Save the Children, said,
“Today’s children are the future custodians of our planet. If we can instill environmental awareness in them now, we can build a more sustainable tomorrow. In the face of global climate change, it’s vital that each of us take meaningful action to restore balance to our environment.”
He also urged for increased tree planting and a significant reduction in plastic use as part of broader environmental protection efforts.
The campaign saw participation from Assistant Commissioner (NGO Cell) Rahmat Ullah, officials from the Tourist Police and Save the Children, sanitation workers, students, scout members, local residents, and tourists. Together, they worked to clean plastic waste and debris along the beach from Laboni Point to Kalatoli.
Save the Children has been operating in Bangladesh for over 50 years and has been running development and humanitarian projects in Cox’s Bazar since 2012.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Courtesy
