Published: 10:50 PM, 18 September 2026
Keep Coasts Clean, Protect Everyone
Shafiqul Islam Khokon
Cleanliness is an essential part of human life. A clean and hygienic environment refreshes the mind and lifts our spirits. As the saying goes, when the mind is well, everything feels good. When the mind is troubled, nothing seems enjoyable. One of the first ways to feel better is to keep oneself clean and healthy.
But taking care of ourselves alone is not enough; we must also keep our families and society healthy and clean. For a conscious citizen, it is important not only to live well personally but also to contribute to the well-being of the family and society.
The political instability and political culture that have emerged in our society have made it increasingly difficult to find a way out of many problems. At the same time, the condition of our society and environment is also very poor. The situation in our coastal areas is even worse than in our cities. We seem to have little concern about how to keep our society and environment clean. The country's authorities remain so focused on urban areas that they hardly have time to think about the coast.
There is no way out of this deteriorating situation without collective efforts. If we can keep our coast clean, we can protect everyone.
If someone is asked, "What is the coast?" perhaps many people would not be able to answer. Yet millions of people live in coastal areas. In very simple terms, almost the entire southern stretch of Bangladesh, from the southwest to the southeast, can be considered coastal. We tend to think of a "coast" simply as a sea beach. This may be largely because of the immense popularity and publicity surrounding Cox's Bazar. Just as some people think of Mount Everest when they hear the word "mountain," many people think only of Cox's Bazar when they hear "coast."
But the coastal region is much larger than that. Almost the entire southern mainland of Bangladesh facing the Bay of Bengal is coastal. Bangladesh's coast encompasses 19 districts. More than 700 kilometers of coastline are closely connected with the lives and livelihoods of millions of people.
The coast is not only about cyclones, tidal surges and disasters. It also offers enormous opportunities in fisheries and tourism. Unfortunately, because of our lack of awareness, these promising areas are increasingly becoming filled with plastic and other waste. Our coastline is being polluted continuously.
September 19 is International Coastal Cleanup Day. There are many observance days in our country, and in my personal opinion, some of them serve little practical purpose. I believe a day should inspire new initiatives, research and innovation and help people learn something meaningful. But what do we actually see? Many observance days become limited to spending money, putting up banners and festoons, and organizing rallies. Yet our country has many areas where research could lead to new discoveries and innovative solutions. The coast is one such area. Unfortunately, we have very little serious thinking about our coastal regions.
Since I have always thought about the coast and written about coastal issues, I have a deep curiosity and emotional attachment to this region. The coast has enormous potential, but it is gradually being destroyed because of the actions of some irresponsible and unscrupulous people in our society. From individuals to institutions, plastic waste is being dumped into the environment. Lack of awareness is another major problem.
The High Court has also issued directives to stop the use of single-use plastic products that become waste after one use in hotels, motels and restaurants in coastal areas of the country. However, the situation is becoming increasingly concerning because the Department of Environment has not taken adequate measures to implement these directives. There is no reason why the Department of Environment cannot take the necessary steps to stop the use of single-use plastics. With the assistance of law enforcement agencies, it could easily inspect the situation on the ground and take action against those who violate the court's directives.
But who will take the initiative? Why would they do it? Who benefits from it? Many questions arise. Above all, we must change our mindset. We see that the waste left behind by tourists visiting coastal areas—what is commonly referred to as anthropogenic marine debris—is one of the major causes of marine and coastal pollution. We might think that if one tourist leaves behind a packet of chips, how much harm could it possibly cause? But the number of packets left behind is what matters. A discarded chips packet, food wrapper or any other plastic packaging can eventually be blown by the wind into the water. It makes no difference whether that water is along the coast of Barguna or the beaches of Cox's Bazar.
Once plastic enters the water, it remains exposed to sunlight for long periods. Solar radiation gradually changes the molecular structure of plastic, making it increasingly brittle. Over time, a plastic wrapper or product begins to break down into smaller and smaller pieces. Eventually, these particles can become so tiny that they are no longer visible to the naked eye. These are called microplastics, which can mix with water and contaminate aquatic ecosystems.
This is why we now frequently hear about plastic being found in fish, human feces and even breast milk. One of the major sources is the cigarette filters, food wrappers, single-use plates and cups, and countless other plastic items that we carelessly throw away.
According to a 2020 World Bank report, per capita plastic consumption in Bangladesh reached 9 kilograms in 2020, compared with 3 kilograms in 2005. Much of this plastic eventually finds its way into the sea. This poses a serious threat to marine biodiversity. Research by climate scientists at the University of Bern in Switzerland has highlighted alarming scenes of massive accumulations of plastic waste in the oceans. A large proportion of discarded plastic remains along coastlines, where it can cause severe environmental damage.
Research shows that around 80 percent of floating plastic waste in the ocean remains near the coast or within 10 kilometers of the coastline even after five years. Approximately 13 million tons of plastic enter the ocean every year, a significant portion of which eventually returns to coastal areas. At least one-third of plastic that drifts into the sea becomes trapped again along coastlines. The consequences are extremely harmful to the environment. Coastal ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to plastic pollution, and the tourism sector is also affected.
Plastic waste is already one of the most serious forms of environmental pollution. In marine pollution, it is among the most significant individual pollutants. One estimate found that in 2019 alone, plastic materials used for packaging and transporting products by e-commerce companies contributed substantially to marine pollution. That year, the amount of such marine-polluting plastic waste was estimated at 224 million pounds.
These figures help demonstrate the seriousness of plastic pollution. Polyethylene and other plastics can persist in the environment for hundreds of years. They pollute water, air and soil and reduce soil fertility. A recent study found alarming evidence of microplastics in the stomachs of 20 species of fish. Unless we can stop the use of polythene and single-use plastics across the country, including in coastal areas, a serious environmental catastrophe could occur in the near future.
Plastic pollution has reached alarming levels in the world's oceans. According to various studies, approximately 75–199 million tons of plastic are currently present in the oceans, while another 8–14 million tons enter the oceans every year. Much of this plastic accumulates in the deep sea.
More than 100,000 marine mammals and around one million seabirds are estimated to die every year after ingesting plastic or becoming entangled in plastic waste. Microplastics are entering the bodies of fish and other marine animals and may also increase the risk of disease in coral reefs.
If the current trend continues, the amount of plastic in the oceans could exceed the weight of fish by 2050.Bangladesh alone contributes approximately 25,000 tonnes of plastic to the ocean every year. If I ask how many people are currently aware of the dangers of plastic waste, or how many understand that plastic poses a threat to the environment, ecosystems, rivers, canals, wetlands and fish, perhaps only a limited number would be able to answer correctly.
If I ask whether anyone has actually been brought under the law or punished for indiscriminate use and disposal of plastic despite specific laws and High Court directives, I do not think many people would be able to identify such cases.
I repeat: before anything else, we must change our mindset. We need to ask ourselves: What am I doing? What do I want to achieve? How beneficial is my action to the public? How much good will it bring to society? If I am well, my family can be well. If the family is well, society can be well. And if society is well, the state can be well. Today, in our so-called civilized society, we use plastic indiscriminately. We have reached a point where society seems unable to function without bottled water in plastic containers. The number of plastic bottles continues to increase.
According to information from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in June 2023, Bangladesh now generates approximately 821,250 tons of plastic waste every year. Around 40 percent of it—approximately 228,000 tons—is recycled or reused. The rest remains in the environment. More than 30 percent of the country's total waste is generated in Dhaka. The capital produces approximately 250,000 tons of waste annually, or around 681 tons per day. Nationwide, the amount is approximately 2,250 tons per day.
According to ministry data, while people across Bangladesh generate around 9 kilograms of waste per capita annually, the figure in the capital is approximately twice as high—18 kilograms. Although Bangladesh has been recycling plastic waste into various products in recent years, there has not yet been a sufficiently systematic national initiative to make the country plastic-free or to remove plastic from the environment through innovative methods.
Conclusion: The coast helps introduce Bangladesh to the world. It contains enormous resources, from tourism and fisheries to the vast possibilities of the blue economy. The coast helps sustain the country, while millions of workers and fishermen contribute to the national GDP. If the coast remains clean, everyone will be better protected. So, let us come together to protect our coast and keep it clean. Keep the coast clean, and protect everyone.
Shafiqul Islam Khokon is a
columnist and a researcher.
