Post-Eid Cleanup Drive Highlights Plastic Pollution Crisis in Cox’s Bazar

Just days after the Eid holidays brought a surge of visitors to Cox’s Bazar, the beach witnessed a different kind of gathering. One driven not by leisure, but by purpose.

With an estimated 3.5 lakh tourists visiting during the three days following Eid-ul-Fitr 2026, the world’s longest sea beach once again faced a familiar challenge: rising volumes of waste, much of it plastic, left behind on the shore. Studies continue to highlight the growing scale of this issue, including recent findings that show significantly higher concentrations of plastic particles in tourist-heavy areas, reinforcing the urgency for sustained action.

Responding to this need, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Cox’s Bazar District Administration, Cox’s Bazar Municipality, Tourist Police, Beach Management Committee, Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), and other local partners and with support from The Coca-Cola Foundation, launched the Post-Eid Festival Beach Clean-Up Activation Campaign 2026 under the Plastics Circularity Project.

The campaign was formally inaugurated on 24 March 2026 at Sugandha Beach Point and ran until 26 March, covering key tourist hotspots including Sugandha, Laboni, and Kolatoli beaches. Blending environmental action with awareness, the initiative featured clean-up drives, awareness rallies, direct engagement with tourists and businesses, and installation of waste bins at key entry points. At its core, the campaign carried a simple but powerful message: waste belongs in the bin, not on the beach. 

Speaking at the inauguration, Md. A Mannan, Deputy Commissioner, Cox’s Bazar said, “Cox’s Bazar is one of the country’s most valuable natural and economic assets. Keeping this beach clean, safe and welcoming requires collective action. This campaign shows how public institutions, development partners and local communities can work together for responsible tourism and better waste management.”

Md. Shamim Al Imran, Administrator, Cox’s Bazar Municipality, added, “For a tourism city like Cox’s Bazar, cleanliness is essential. This initiative is important not only because it helps clean the beach after Eid, but because it reminds all of us that waste must be disposed of in the right place.”

Assistant Resident Representative of UNDP, Sarder M Asaduzzaman noted, “Through the Plastics Circularity Project, we are working with local authorities, private sector partners and communities to improve collection, recycling and responsible disposal. This campaign shows how strong local partnership can turn awareness into action.”

Over the three days, the campaign mobilised youth volunteers and waste workers, removing 173 bags of waste, over 1.1 tons, from the beach. More than 3,500 individuals, including tourists, families, vendors and local workers, directly participated in clean-up and awareness activities. Through miking, conversations, Q&A sessions and visual messaging, the campaign reached an estimated 20,000 visitors daily. One tourist reflected, “We need to put garbage in dustbins to protect our environment. This is Bangladesh, and it belongs to all of us. Taking care of it is our responsibility.” 

Beyond immediate clean-up, the initiative also focused on longer-term impact. Thirty waste bins were installed and handed over to the Tourist Police, while collected plastic waste was channeled to local recyclers with proper documentation.

The campaign is part of the Plastics Circularity Project, a three-year initiative implemented by UNDP Bangladesh with support from The Coca-Cola Foundation. Operating in Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar and Tangail, the project aims to strengthen plastic waste management systems, increase recycling, and reduce plastic leakage into the environment. It targets the collection of 15,000 tons of plastic waste and supports 2,000 direct beneficiaries through partnerships with local government, private sector actors, and waste workers.