The use of plastics in Bangladesh has increased by 80 times in the past 28 years, says green group, Save the Environment Movement (POBA).
Quoting a recent survey of POBA,the use of plastics in Bangladesh has grown to 1,200,000 metric tons in 2018 compared to just 15 thousand metric tons in 1990.
The statistics were shared at a POBA seminar on polythene and plastic use,organized to mark Earth Day 2018 on Saturday.
Speakers at the seminar said the regular use of plastic products is causing serious harm to the soil, water, health, ecology, flora and fauna, as well as affecting the food chain. Though Bangladesh has a law prohibiting the use of plastic bags there is still no regulation on production and management of other plastic products which choke the environment.
Dr Ahmed Kamruzzaman Majumdar, head of the Environment Science Department of Stamford University of Bangladesh, read out the main article at the seminar.
He mentioned that micro plastic particles or microbeads are being used in soap, facial creams, toothpastes, detergents and other toiletries, spreading into the environment.
He said as the particles are very minute, they can enter fish through their food, and thus it goes into the human body which may even cause cancer.
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Speakers last year said at least five trillion plastic bags were used all over the world and only 10% of those were recycled, while the rest were polluting the environment.
They said every year eight million metric tons of plastic get deposited in the oceans.
Members of the group urged the government to popularize the use of jute products instead of plastic, to enforce the polythene prohibition act, regulate plastic products by forming strict laws, and to encourage recycling, creating mass awareness of proper plastic management.
The seminar was chaired by Abu Nasr Khan, president of the organisation.
Every year, Earth Day is observed on April 22 and this year the slogan of the day is, “End Plastic Pollution.”