Saint Martin’s, the only coral-rich island in Bangladesh, is on its way to becoming plastic-free. Initiatives are now in place to collect and recycle plastic waste, which has long threatened the island’s delicate marine biodiversity.
Moreover, the government has introduced alternative systems to provide drinking water and aims to phase out the use of plastic bottles on the island. Experts believe these efforts will significantly contribute to preserving the island’s unique ecosystem.
Pran-RFL Group and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have led a joint recycling effort on Saint Martin’s Island, covering 8 square kilometers. This collaborative initiative collects and recycles plastic waste to mitigate pollution and protect marine life.
Abul Manzoor, an assistant engineer at the Department of Public Health Engineering in Cox’s Bazar, stated, “Through this project, Bangladesh has become the third country globally to use waste for electricity generation.”
The Department of Environment declared Saint Martin’s an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA) in 1999 to safeguard biodiversity. More recently, on January 4, 2023, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change designated 1,743 square kilometers of the surrounding Bay of Bengal as a protected area under the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report/Abdur Rashid Manik
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