Subheadline: A new agreement with IPSA Waste Management Enterprise aims to ensure the regular collection and recycling of plastic brought by students.
CHATTOGRAM, October 26: More than 400 students have visited Chattogram Zoo free of charge by depositing used plastic since a special initiative began last September, District Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Mia has said.
The district administration introduced the scheme to raise awareness among children and teenagers about plastic pollution. Under the initiative, students under 18 can enter the zoo without paying the regular Tk 70 fee by depositing 100 grams of used plastic.
Zahidul Islam shared the information on Monday, October 26, at a ceremony marking an agreement between the Chattogram district administration and IPSA Waste Management Enterprise. The agreement aims to ensure the regular collection and recycling of plastic deposited at the zoo.
Agreement to ensure regular plastic recycling
Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU), IPSA Waste Management Enterprise will collect, sort and recycle the deposited plastic through environmentally friendly processes. The agreement will run for an initial period of one year, with no financial transactions between the two parties.
Pathan Md. Saiduzzaman, Additional Deputy Commissioner for Education and ICT and vice-president of the Chattogram Zoo Executive Committee, signed the agreement on behalf of the district administration. Palash Kumar Chowdhury, director of finance at IPSA, signed it on behalf of the organisation.
The agreement is intended to establish a regular system for handling the plastic collected through the student entry scheme.
Plastic recycling could create a major industry
Speaking at the event, Zahidul Islam said the public’s interest in collecting plastic could help develop a major recycling industry in Bangladesh. He noted that people from different places had contacted him after learning about the zoo’s initiative.
They expressed interest in collecting plastic and wanted to know how the waste could be recycled. However, the district commissioner said the limited number of suitable facilities in the country remained a challenge.
“If everyone genuinely collects the plastic, I think it could become a major industry in the future,” he said.
He also stressed that recycling must protect both the environment and human health. Proper waste management and safe disposal systems are needed, he said, while the use of natural materials, including jute, should also increase.
Initiative aims to build environmental awareness
The district commissioner said many students could afford the zoo’s entrance fee. However, asking them to bring used plastic gives them a chance to understand how plastic waste affects the environment and society.
He said the main goal was to build a sense of environmental responsibility among the next generation. Although the agreement covers a limited activity, its wider impact could be significant, he added.
Zahidul Islam welcomed IPSA’s involvement and called for similar efforts beyond the zoo. He said private organisations could also encourage people to collect and manage plastic waste.
Plans to plant 150 coconut trees at the zoo
The district commissioner also announced plans to plant around 150 coconut trees to make Chattogram Zoo greener and more attractive.
He said the zoo houses several animal species, including white tigers. Animal exchanges have also helped bring in species that were not previously present, increasing the zoo’s appeal.
He urged students to visit the zoo to see animals and birds and learn about nature and biodiversity. He also encouraged children to spend less time looking at mobile phone screens and experience the natural world directly.
Zahidul Islam sought media support to convey this message to students and their parents.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md. Sharif Uddin, Additional Deputy Commissioner (LA) Md. Kamruzzaman, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Sakhawat Jamil Saikat, and officials from the district administration and IPSA attended the event.
The one-year agreement will guide the regular collection, sorting and environmentally friendly recycling of plastic deposited by students at Chattogram Zoo.
