Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. File Photo

DHAKA, June 24,2025 (BSS) – Chief Adviser Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus today called upon all to make joint efforts to build a prosperous Bangladesh full of clean environment and conserving biodiversity for future generations.

He made the call in a message issued on the occasion of World Environment Day to be observed tomorrow in Bangladesh. 

The original date of the day is June 5 which fell during the Eid-ul-Azha holidays. That is why, official the environment day will be observed tomorrow in Bangladesh. 

In the message the chief adviser said the World Environment Day is being celebrated in Bangladesh like other countries of the world to increase public awareness on environmental protection. 

This year’s theme of World Environment Day set by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - 'Ending Plastic Pollution', which meant 'No more plastic pollution', is very significant, he said.

Yunus said the use of plastic products has increased vastly in the past few decades. The versatile and uncontrolled use of plastic products, especially the excessive production, indiscriminate use and mismanagement of single-use plastic, is causing terrible damage to the environment, he said. 
Strict control of plastic pollution has become essential to ensure the protection of our environment and ecology.

The chief adviser said his government has taken various steps to control plastic pollution to protect the environment and public health. 

Regular monitoring activities are continuing nationwide to stop the production and use of shopping bags, he said, adding special initiatives have been taken to develop, approve and introduce environmentally friendly alternatives to polythene bags. 

Activities are ongoing to stop transboundary plastic pollution and projects are being implemented for the proper and environmentally friendly management of plastic waste and marine litter, he said. 

Work is underway to formulate EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) guidelines under the ‘Solid Waste Management Rules, 2021’, where the producer will collect and manage plastic waste on his own responsibility, he mentioned.

Yunus said many areas of Bangladesh, a paradise of natural beauty, are currently environmentally and ecologically critical. 

The government has already taken initiatives to protect and restore the biodiversity of the environmentally critical St. Martin Island by limiting tourism and creating alternative employment opportunities for local residents, he said. 

He urged everyone to come forward for the successful implementation of the government's initiative to protect the only coral island in Bangladesh. 

The chief adviser wished the success of all the programs undertaken on the occasion of World Environment Day.