A story of resilience and sustainability in a changing environment

Cox’s Bazar, famous for its stunning beaches and rich marine biodiversity, is also home to a resilient fishing community grappling with growing challenges—chief among them, the escalating threat of plastic pollution. In a case story featured as part of the PLEASE Project, Uday Shikder, Deputy Manager of Knowledge Management & Learning at the BRAC Urban Development Programme, highlights the difficulties faced by local fishermen and their efforts to embrace sustainable practices.

The story follows Ziaur Rahman, a 37-year-old fisherman who has devoted his life to the sea. Like many in his community, Ziaur has endured the hardships of overfishing, unpredictable markets, and environmental damage, particularly due to plastic waste. Bangladesh generates approximately 3,000 tons of plastic waste daily, yet only 36% is properly recycled or disposed of. This waste has devastating effects on marine ecosystems, entangling or being ingested by marine life, and reducing fish populations.

In response to this crisis, the BRAC Urban Development Programme initiated a 17-month, World Bank-funded project to combat plastic pollution through a human-centric waste management system. Ziaur became actively involved in this initiative, attending three training sessions that equipped him with skills in plastic collection, hygiene, sanitation, safe fish handling, and occupational safety.

Read the full article here to learn more about Ziaur Rahman’s journey and the collective efforts to protect Cox’s Bazar’s fishing communities from the growing threat of plastic pollution.