In an effort to protect the environment, reduce plastic pollution, and promote environmentally responsible behaviour among children and adolescents, the Chattogram District Administration and YPSA Waste Management Enterprise have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to introduce a plastic waste exchange initiative at Chattogram Zoo. Under this initiative, students will be able to enter the zoo free of charge by submitting 100 grams of designated plastic waste, including plastic bottles and polythene.
The MoU signing ceremony was held on Monday, 26 October 2026, at the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Chattogram. The agreement aims to ensure the proper collection, management, recycling, and environmentally sound processing of plastic waste collected through the initiative.
Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate of Chattogram, attended the ceremony as the Chief Guest. He praised YPSA’s efforts to address environmental challenges through innovative initiatives and highlighted the importance of such programmes in protecting Chattogram city from the growing risks of environmental pollution. He expressed hope that YPSA would continue to develop more modern, innovative, and environmentally sustainable projects.
The Deputy Commissioner also expressed optimism that the collected plastic waste could be properly managed and recycled into environmentally friendly and innovative products. He noted that the initiative could help reduce plastic pollution while encouraging children and adolescents to view waste as a valuable resource rather than a burden on the environment.
During the event, Palash Kumar Chowdhury, Director (Finance) of YPSA, highlighted the positive aspects of plastic waste management initiatives, emphasizing the importance of waste collection, source segregation, recycling, and effective waste management systems. He also discussed the role of YPSA’s entrepreneurship loan programme in creating new business opportunities and strengthening the economic capacity of people engaged in waste management. He noted that appropriate institutional support and access to financing could help develop new entrepreneurs and expand employment opportunities in the plastic waste management sector.
Officials from the Chattogram District Administration present at the ceremony included Additional Deputy Commissioner (Land Acquisition) Md. Kamruzzaman; Additional District Magistrate Syed Mahbubul Haque; Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Md. Sharif Uddin; Deputy Director (Local Government) Golam Mainuddin Hasan; Additional Deputy Commissioner (Revenue) Sakhawat Jamil Saikat; and Additional Deputy Commissioner (Education and ICT) Pathan Md. Saiduzzaman.
Representatives from YPSA included Farhana Idris, Assistant Director (Social Development Programme); Apurba Deb, Programme Manager; Md. Jasim Uddin and Sakhawat Hossain, BDC; Aman Chowdhury, Zone Supervisor; and Md. Nazim Uddin Chowdhury, Senior Project Officer of the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Project. Sajadul Anwar Bhuiyan, a Chattogram district-level representative of the Village Court Project, was also present.