A two-day beach cleaning drive aimed at addressing the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and strengthening adaptation efforts on St Martin’s Island was successfully completed on Sunday.
The programme, organised under the Climate Change Impact Mitigation and Adaptation Project for St Martin’s Island, began at 2:00 pm on Saturday, February 7, and continued through Sunday, February 8.
The beach cleaning campaign was inaugurated with a virtual address by Cox’s Bazar Department of Environment director Jamir Uddin, followed by an environmental protection oath administered by the project director, Kamrul Hasan. The initiative was carried out in a disciplined manner, with the participation of more than a hundred volunteers, including island residents from different professions, youths, students and members of various voluntary organisations.
Speaking at the event, Jamir Uddin said the government organises beach-cleaning programmes every year after the end of the tourist season under the supervision of the Department of Environment. He said the objective of continuing these activities annually was to raise awareness of the harmful effects of plastic waste and to promote an environmentally responsible mindset. Similar cleaning drives will persist until island residents and tourists develop sufficient environmental awareness, he added.
Before administering the oath, project director Kamrul Hasan said that conscious sections of society must come forward to protect St Martin’s Island from plastic pollution. He described the island as a unique and valuable natural asset of Bangladesh, stressing that its preservation is a collective responsibility for the benefit of present and future generations.
Among others, the event was attended by the assistant director of the Department of Environment, Cox’s Bazar, Abdul Latif Jony; UDP-BRAC St Martin’s project coordinator Mongwan Line; mobiliser Martin Kumar Biswas; field coordinator Muhammad Rafiq; DPH St Martin’s project supervisor Zainul Abedin; and Pran-RFL temporary waste management project field coordinator Osman Gani.
Organisers said that such initiatives would play a vital role in conserving the natural environment and biodiversity of St Martin’s Island.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Photo: Courtesy
