PRAN-RFL and DoE jointly organize roundtable: Stakeholder Coordination Essential for Sustainable Plastic Waste Management

Collaboration among all stakeholders, including the government, local government bodies, industries, development partners, recycling sector, academia and civil society, is essential to ensure sustainable plastic waste management in Bangladesh. Speakers expressed this view at a roundtable discussion titled "Sustainable Plastic Waste Management in Bangladesh: Challenges and Stakeholders' Responsibilities", held on Thursday at the Department of Environment (DoE) Conference Room in Agargaon, Dhaka. PRAN-RFL Group organized the discussion with the support of the Department of Environment (DoE) to observe World Environment Day 2026. The session was chaired by Dr. Md. Lutfur Rahman, Director General of the Department of Environment.

Participants held extensive discussions on the country's existing plastic waste management challenges, source-level waste segregation, efficient collection systems, increased use of recyclable plastics, resource recovery, effective implementation of existing policies, and strengthening public-private partnerships in the sector. They emphasized that building an efficient and sustainable plastic waste management system requires not only sound policies but also stronger implementation capacity, greater public awareness, and coordinated participation from all relevant stakeholders.

Chairing the discussion, Dr. Md. Lutfur Rahman, Director General of the Department of Environment, said, "To protect the environment and ensure sustainable development, plastic waste management must become more effective and coordinated. The government alone cannot address this challenge. Industries, local government institutions, the recycling sector, development partners, research organizations and the general public all have important roles to play. Only through coordinated efforts can we build a sustainable and long-term plastic waste management system."

Kamruzzaman Kamal, Marketing Director of PRAN-RFL Group, said, "As an industry, our responsibility extends beyond manufacturing to protecting the environment. Strengthening collaboration among the government, industries and other stakeholders is essential to ensure the responsible use, collection and recycling of plastics. We believe that discussions like this play an important role in identifying practical solutions and shaping long-term initiatives."

The event was moderated by Razinara Begum, Director (Waste and Chemicals Management), Department of Environment. Khaled Hasan, Director (Law); A.K.M. Rafiqul Islam, Director (Natural Resource Management), Md. Hasan Hasibur Rahman, Director (Planning), Md. Sadikul Islam, Director (IT), and Dr. Abdullah Al Mamun, Deputy Director

(Waste and Chemicals Management), along with other senior officials of the Department of Environment, attended the event.

The roundtable also brought together Air Commodore Md. Mahabubur Rahman Talukder, Chief Waste Management Officer of Dhaka South City Corporation; Md. Sohel Rana, Chief Waste Management Officer of Gazipur City Corporation; Professor Dr. Asib Ahmed of University of Dhaka, Professor Dr. Mohammad Shakil Akther of BUET; Professor Dr. Abdul Kader Ibne Kamal of Jahangirnagar University, Assistant Professor Md. Arifur Rahman of Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), and representatives from BPCL, UNDP, BRAC, Waste Concern, Bangladesh Sustainability Alliance, Unilever, Nestlé, Coca-Cola, PRAN-RFL Group, LafargeHolcim Bangladesh, the plastic recycling industry, and the media.