In August 2025, the ASEZ Bangladesh branch actively carried out its “Zero Plastic 2040” campaign centered in Chittagong, taking tangible action toward eliminating plastic pollution. This series of initiatives is part of ASEZ’s global campaign to end plastic pollution by 2040, aligning with the international community’s shared goal of achieving a sustainable future.
According to the OECD’s “Global Policy Scenarios for Ending Plastic Pollution by 2040” released last year, the world must make strong reduction efforts across the entire life cycle of plastics—from production to disposal and recycling—to achieve meaningful elimination of plastic pollution. Responding to this call, ASEZ continues with “Zero Plastic 2040” activities in Bangladesh as well.
On August 8, more than 70 ASEZ members conducted a large-scale cleanup at Patenga Beach, one of Chittagong’s most popular tourist destinations. Local members were joined by ASEZ volunteers visiting from Korea, along with their families and fellow volunteers.
Patenga Beach, which attracts thousands of tourists daily, has been a major pollution hotspot due to piles of plastic waste such as food packaging, bottles, and plastic bags. Equipped with cleaning tools provided by the Chittagong City, ASEZ volunteers cleaned a 0.9 mile section of the beach and collected 1720 lb of waste (equivalent to 78 full 50-liter bags) within two hours—220 lb of which was plastic.
Muktabir, Assistant Director at the Chittagong Office of the Ministry of Environment, praised ASEZ’s work, saying, “ASEZ’s activities align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and have a positive impact on both the Chittagong community and environmental conservation in Bangladesh. I was deeply impressed to see young university students voluntarily engage in local cleanup efforts.”
On August 10, ASEZ hosted a “Zero Plastic 2040” seminar at the Chittagong Department of Environment office. Participants included members of Clean Bangladesh, a Chittagong University student environmental volunteer group, and government officials. They shared ASEZ’s global plastic reduction activities and local case studies from Bangladesh.
Ten attending officials and community representatives expressed their support for ASEZ’s efforts by signing a pledge and presenting ASEZ with a plaque of appreciation, recognizing the organization’s contribution to environmental protection. This marked a significant milestone, as ASEZ’s campaign received official acknowledgment from a local government body.
On August 18, ASEZ held the “Zero Plastic 2040” forum at Premier University, Chittagong, with about 240 attendees, including the registrar, international affairs director, department heads, professors, and students. ASEZ presented on global trends in plastic reduction and the role of university students in achieving it.
After the forum, participants signed in support of the “Zero Plastic 2040” campaign, and the university presented ASEZ with a plaque of appreciation. ASEZ and Premier University also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on environmental education and plastic reduction initiatives.
Premier University Registrar Mohammad Iftekhar Monir stated, “ASEZ’s inspiring performance and seminar gave us great motivation. Through this MOU, Premier University will work closely with ASEZ to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and realize the vision of ‘Zero Plastic 2040.’ ”
The agreement marks a key milestone in expanding ASEZ’s plastic reduction initiatives beyond communities to the academic sector, serving as a foundation for sustainable change driven by youth and educational institutions.
An ASEZ Bangladesh representative said, “It’s time to raise awareness about plastic, the main culprit of environmental pollution,” adding, “We will work to build a sustainable planet by promoting a culture of practical action shared among universities, the government, and citizens such as reducing plastic use in daily life and collecting neglected waste.”
Through the “Zero Plastic 2040” campaign, ASEZ is leading tangible change across Bangladesh, demonstrating how youth-led environmental leadership can drive social awareness and institutional transformation.
