Shakti Foundation is honored to have partaken in the “Managing Plastics in Bangladesh Conference 2023” held at Hotel Westin on October 30, 2023. The daylong event was jointly organized by Amal Foundation and the US Embassy, Dhaka. The third session of the conference, titled “Recycling Revolution: A Bangladeshi Perspective, was moderated by Deputy Executive Director of Shakti Foundation, Mr. Imran Ahmed. The esteemed panelists of the session included Mr. Khadem Mahmud Yusuf, Managing Director, Bangladesh Petrochemical Company Limited (BPCL); Mr. Anowarul Amin, Director, Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability, Coca-Cola Bangladesh Beverages Limited; Mr. Rathendra Nath Paul, Managing Director, RFL Group; and Ms. Esrat Karim, Founder and Director, Amal Foundation.
During the session, Mr. Imran Ahmed spoke about Bangladesh’s lagging plastic waste management system despite the recent uptake in plastic use within the nation. This increased usage is not only based in major cities but also in the villages. Further, there is no specific database on collection and recycling of used plastic due to the existing system being largely informal. Mr. Imran Ahmed concluded the session by emphasizing on the importance of all concerned to come forward and collaborate on meaningful change in the plastic waste management sector.