Cox's Bazar beach clean-up removes 1,168 kg of waste in three days

A three-day beach clean-up campaign in Cox's Bazar has removed over 1,168 kilograms of waste from the shoreline. Organised by UNDP Bangladesh, the effort ran from March 24 to 26 and involved volunteers, government workers, and local authorities. The initiative also aimed to raise public awareness about responsible waste disposal and recycling. The campaign kicked off at Sugandha Beach Point with participation from government officials, UNDP representatives, and local partners. Teams worked across three key areas—Sugandha, Laboni, and Kolatoli—collecting waste alongside youth volunteers, municipal staff, and beach management representatives. On the final day alone, they gathered 118 bags of rubbish weighing over 835 kilograms.

Public engagement played a major role in the drive. More than 3,500 tourists took part directly, while awareness activities reached an additional 20,000 visitors. Md Shamim Al Imran, Cox's Bazar municipality administrator, stressed the importance of proper waste disposal to protect the environment. The project forms part of UNDP Bangladesh's broader Plastics Circularity initiative, launched in 2020. Since then, it has supported 15 community-led actions focused on plastic reduction and waste management. Sarder M Asaduzzaman, UNDP's assistant resident representative, highlighted the campaign's goals: improving waste collection, boosting recycling rates, and encouraging responsible disposal habits. Funding came from The Coca-Cola Foundation, alongside support from local partners.

The clean-up removed a total of 173 bags of waste from Cox's Bazar beach. Officials, including deputy commissioner Md A Mannan, called for ongoing cooperation to maintain a clean and safe shoreline. The campaign's success reflects growing efforts to tackle plastic pollution through community action and public education.