Stakeholders meet on gender issues in plastic waste

Stakeholder consultation meeting held to address gender issues in plastic waste management sector in Cox’s Bazar

Poisoned mustard seeds allegedly sown to protect crops killed dozens of pigeons in Satkhira’s Tala, prompting outrage, demands for compensation, and assurances of legal action by forest officials this week.

A stakeholder consultation meeting on “Addressing Gender Issues in the Plastic Waste Management Sector in Cox’s Bazar” was held on 21 December at Seagull Hotels in Cox’s Bazar, a district in the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh. The meeting brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to discuss gender-specific challenges and opportunities within the plastic waste management sector and to promote inclusive and sustainable solutions.

The consultation was organized under the TCCF Plastic Circularity Project, which is being implemented by Young Power in Social Action (YPSA) in collaboration with Chittagong City Corporation, Tangail Municipality and Cox’s Bazar Municipality, with financial support from The Coca-Cola Foundation and technical support from UNDP. The project started on 1 December 2025.

As part of the project activities, capacity-building trainings and health protection materials will be provided to waste collectors of Cox’s Bazar Municipality, with a strong focus on improving occupational safety, dignity and gender inclusion in the waste management sector.

The stakeholder consultation meeting was organized by UNDP and was attended by a wide range of participants, including government representatives, municipal authorities, national and international NGOs, UN bodies, private sector actors, waste workers, recyclers and CMSMEs.

The chief guest of the event was the Additional DIG of Tourist Police, Cox’s Bazar, Mr Apple Mahmud. Other notable participants included the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, women entrepreneurs, startup organizations, representatives from the Department of Women Affairs, the Department of Youth Development (DYD) and officials from various government departments and municipalities.

Sarder M Asaduzzaman, Assistant Resident Representative and Head of the RIG Cluster at UNDP Bangladesh, delivered the welcome remarks and outlined the objectives of the project. Mr Mohammed Shahidul Islam, Deputy Director and Regional Head of Cox’s Bazar, was also present at the event. Mr Abdus Sabur, Assistant Director, gave a brief presentation on the project, while other officials highlighted gender issues in the waste management sector.

The meeting focused on identifying gender-based barriers faced by women and marginalized groups in the plastic waste management sector, discussing policy and practice gaps and exploring collaborative actions to ensure safer working conditions, equal opportunities and meaningful participation of women across the value chain.

Participants emphasized the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration to address gender inequality in waste management and highlighted the need for continued investment in capacity development, social protection and inclusive circular economy initiatives in Cox’s Bazar.

The consultation concluded with a shared commitment from stakeholders to work collectively towards a gender-responsive and inclusive plastic circularity system, contributing to sustainable urban development and environmental protection in Cox’s Bazar.