Cox’s Bazar, renowned for its breathtaking coastline stretching along the Bay of Bengal, has dismally become synonymous with plastic pollution in recent years. With hopes of restoring Cox’s Bazar to its former glory the PLEASE project aims to mobilize local communities and stakeholders towards sustainable waste management practices. In effect, BRAC, a regional block grantee of the PLEASE Project celebrated World Environment Day on the 5th of June organising a grand beach clean-up event at the World’s Longest Natural Sea Beach from Laboni Point to Kalatoli Point (3.4 Km) involving 300 volunteers and collecting a total of 659.2 Kg of plastic waste! The volunteers were categorised into three age groups 6-17 years(M-42, F-33), 18-59 years(M-191, F-33), and 60+ years(M-1, F-0)

Themed “Generation Restoration,” in alignment with the UN’s call to action, the event aimed to instill a sense of responsibility and stewardship towards environmental conservation among the populace. The beach clean-up drive, a pivotal component of this initiative, witnessed the enthusiastic participation of volunteers, community members, and environmental enthusiasts alike.

In addition to the meticulous clean-up drive, a thought-provoking theatre performance was staged, shedding light on the perils of plastic pollution and advocating for sustainable waste management practices.

The event served as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for collective action to safeguard our planet’s fragile ecosystems. Through the synergistic efforts of BRAC and its partners, significant strides are being made towards creating a cleaner, greener future for Cox’s Bazar and beyond.
As the PLEASE project continues to gain momentum, it remains poised to catalyze transformative change by fostering a culture of environmental consciousness and civic engagement in the South Asian region.