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Despite undeniable necessity of plastic goods in different sectors, their usage in the country should focus on recycling and proper waste management, President of the International Chamber of Commerce, Bangladesh (ICCB) Mahbubur Rahman said on Saturday.
"The path forward must be responsible -- prioritizing recycling, reuse, proper waste management, and environment-friendly innovations wherever possible," he said.
It must be acknowledged that there is a global concern that uncontrolled plastic use and poor waste management can create serious environmental risks, he said adding that Bangladesh has been experiencing such problems for many years.
He made the remarks while addressing as chief guest the closing ceremony of the 18th edition of the Bangladesh International Plastic, Packaging and Printing Industrial Fair-2026 held at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in the city's Kuril Bishwa Road area.
The Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA) and Yorkers Trade and Marketing Service Co Ltd jointly organised the trade show.
Hailing the organisers for hosting such an international event, the ICCB President said the theme of this year's event -- "Plastic Uses in Agriculture" -- has been both timely and relevant.
Agriculture remains the backbone of the country's economy with a growing population and climate-related challenges, modern farming requiring innovative, efficient solutions, said Mr Rahman.
"Plastic applications -- such as mulching films, greenhouse and polyhouse covers, and drip and sprinkler irrigation pipes -- can help improve productivity, conserve water, and protect crops against harsh weather," he added.
Growing domestic base and an expanding export footprint of the plastic sector hold huge potential, he said. "We also recognize that the sector's role goes beyond direct exports".
"Plastic products are closely linked with key export industries, including garments, pharmaceuticals, food processing, and consumer goods -- meaning the sector supports competitiveness across the entire value chain," he added.
With Bangladesh preparing for LDC graduation which will bring many changes in the way of dealing with other countries, the plastic, packaging, and printing sectors must not remain supporting industries only -- they must evolve as strategic growth drivers.
Former President of BPGMEA A.S.M. Kamal Uddin, Deputy Project Director, EC4J Sheikh Muhammad Abdur Rahman, and President of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) Jashim Uddin attended as the special guests of the event.
President of the BPGMEA Shamim Ahmed delivered the address of welcome, while Overseas Director of Chan Chao International Akai Lin also spoke on the occasion.
In his speech Shamim Ahmed said over 30,000 business visitors explored the fair in four days.
"The fair has been basically a plastic technology fair with participation from home and aboard," he said.
In his speech, BPGMEA's A.S.M. Kamal Uddin criticised the roles of banks for not cooperating with the businesses.
Mr Jashim Uddin said the country's businesses including ones from the plastic sector often faced trouble due to the dominance of red tape in bureaucracy.
"Even policies are adopted without discussion with their respective sectors," he said.
Best stalls in different categories were also awarded at the closing ceremony.
The Financial Express has been one of the media partners of the event.
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