As part of the 3-day national seminar organised by the Department of Environment to commemorate World Environment Day 2025, a thematic session titled Sustainable Management of Solid Waste: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Way Forward called for sustainable action on solid waste management.
Hasin Jahan, country director, WaterAid Bangladesh, delivered welcome speech while Mohammad Navid Safiullah, additional secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, graced as chief guest at the session at the DoE seminar hall at Agargaon in Dhaka on Thursday, said a press release on Friday.聽
The session was chaired by Md Sohrab Ali, additional director general, Department of Environment.
The session was convened by WaterAid Bangladesh in collaboration with the Department of Environment and partners including, Swiss Red Cross, Bangladesh Petrochemical Company Limited, WEEE Society Bangladesh, and Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.聽
It brought together key voices from government, private sector, civil society, development agencies, academia and the media.
The event was held under the umbrella of the Swiss-supported GO4IMPact programme, jointly implemented by WaterAid Bangladesh-Swisscontact Bangladesh consortium.
Speakers and participants explored the current realities of plastic, organic and electronic waste, and discussed the systemic reforms needed to address the growing environmental and public health risks.
Mohammad Navid Safiullah underscored that a three-pronged approach was essential for effective solid waste management鈥� mass public awareness, institutional enforcement and strong regulatory action.
Hasin Jahan highlighted that waste solutions must go beyond bins, mentioning that behaviour change, incentives, and circular thinking were key to ending plastic pollution.
Md Sohrab Ali emphasised the need for stronger institutional leadership and coordinated action.
Shirin Sultana Lira, programme manager, governance, climate change and environment, embassy of Switzerland in Dhaka, emphasised that collaboration, coordination and joint action were prerequisites for building a cleaner, safer and climate-resilient future.
The keynote presentation was delivered by Saief Manzoor-Al-Islam, team leader, GO4IMPact programme, who outlined the policy landscape, current management gaps and strategic recommendations for integrated solid waste management in Bangladesh.
Presentations also included practical experiences on plastic waste by Khadem Mahmud Yusuf, managing director, BPCL; organic waste management by Kamalendu Das, technical manager, Swiss Red Cross; and e-waste management by Md Mostafa Akbar, vice-chairperson, WEEE Society Bangladesh.
A high-level panel discussion followed, featuring reflections on the roles of youth, citizens, development partners, private sector, and local government in advancing sustainable waste solutions.
Speakers included Razinara Begum, director, waste and chemicals management, Department of Environment; Shirin Sultana Lira, Tariq Bin Yousuf, solid waste management specialist, UDCGP, LGED; Sumaiya Tabassum, head of sustainability, Pran RFL; and Abrar Jahin Raein, member, TIB general assembly on youth engagement and support group.
The session also included an open discussion segment, where attendees contributed insights on the challenges, opportunities, and actionable pathways for improving waste governance, infrastructure, and private sector participation across municipalities and rural areas.
Partha Hefaz Shaikh, director, programmes and policy advocacy, WaterAid Bangladesh, delivered the vote of thanks and concluded the session.
