Environment and Social Development Organization -ESDO

11/06/2026

Get ready for an exhilarating experience at ESDO's art exhibition, "Our Environment: Beauty Fading in Pollution" to be held from 14th to 16th June from 11AM till 8PM; OPEN FOR ALL!
The grand exhibition will be formally inaugurated on 14th June at 3PM.

We are thrilled to present to you:
1. A three-day-long environmental art exhibition for all
2. A riveting DIY segment on eco-friendly bags
3. Plastic detox documentary screening
4. Plastic lifecycle captured in traditional bioscope
5. An open canvas wall to express our shared hope for the future

The eco-friendly bags provided during the Creative Art Activity have been created by the women entrepreneurs from ESDO's 'Zero Waste' community, and the sustainable crochet decoratives in this session have been made with care by Shibon. The entire event has been supported by the Mutual Trust Bank PLC.

Don't miss the most captivating exhibition of the year!

Let art speak for our environment.

10/06/2026

On 10 June 2025 at ESDO Office, Dhaka, a national press briefing marked the launch of ESDO’s flagship study “Beyond the Ban: Unpacking Polythene Dependency in Bangladesh.”

The event brought together distinguished voices including Syed Marghub Murshed (Former Secretary, Government of Bangladesh), Dr. Shahriar Hossain (Secretary General, ESDO), Ms. Siddika Sultana (Executive Director, ESDO), and Mahmuda Tamanna Khan (Inspector, Department of Environment).

Joined by media representatives, the discussion revealed critical legal loopholes, enforcement gaps, and governance failures that have hindered the landmark 2002 polythene ban. Speakers emphasized the urgent need for policy reform, stronger enforcement, affordable alternatives, and public engagement to ensure Bangladesh’s pioneering environmental law delivers its intended impact. This briefing reaffirmed Bangladesh’s role as a global environmental leader while highlighting the unfinished journey toward a polythene-free future.

09/06/2026

Get ready for an exciting experience at the exhibition, where you will have the opportunity to design an eco-friendly bag and call it your own!

The bags have been created by the women entrepreneurs from ESDO's 'Zero Waste' community. The sustainable crochet decoratives for this session have been made with care by Shibon. The entire event has been supported by the Mutual Trust Bank PLC.

The artists will have the chance to:
Draw & design the bags as you like
Decorate the bag with attractive & sustainable crochet products
Support women entrepreneurs
Put your own personal touch & take the bag home with you

Don't forget to attend our event on 14th, 15th, and 16th June!

08/06/2026

The ocean sustains us. It’s time to return the favor. ✨

Did you know that every second breath you take comes from the ocean? It produces over 50% of the world's oxygen and absorbs 90% of excess climate heat. The ocean isn’t just a beautiful view, it is our planetary life-support system.

But beneath the breathtaking blue waves lies a heartbreaking reality:
📈 11+ million metric tons of plastic waste flood our oceans every single year.
🍽️ 5 grams. That is the average amount of microplastics humans accidentally consume every single week through contaminated seafood, water, and air, which is equivalent to eating a credit card.

The ocean isn't a garbage dump. It’s a home to marine life and the very source of our existence.

This World Ocean Day, let’s all start taking action. Your small daily choices can create a massive wave of change. Let’s protect what keeps us alive. 🌊💙

07/06/2026

🎉 Yesterday, June 6th, marked a profound milestone for us: ESDO’s 36th Anniversary!

To celebrate this journey, we hosted an anniversary dinner with our stakeholders, partners, and team members, whose trust has sustained our mission for decades. The event was a beautiful success, filled with gratitude and shared hope for the future.

Since 1990, ESDO has been at the forefront of environmental justice in Bangladesh. From leading the movement that made Bangladesh the first country in Asia to ban plastic bags to our ongoing work in ecosystem protection, chemical safety, and policy advocacy, our mission continues to grow. Building on this legacy, we will continue to advance our efforts, drive policy innovation, and expand our impact for a healthier planet and for generations to come.

None of our achievements would be possible without your dedication. We extend our warmest gratitude to our global community, partners, stakeholders, and the countless individuals and communities we serve. Thank you for standing with ESDO and for your continued partnership in shaping a greener future!

07/06/2026

Climate change is not just an environmental issue, it is a human story, and film has the power to tell that story in ways that inspire action.

The Climate Change Film Festival, organized by GTD Media Production, brought together young filmmakers, media professionals, government officials, development practitioners, academics, and students to explore the realities of climate change through one of the most powerful and emotionally engaging mediums: film.
The event was graced by the presence of Honorable Member of Parliament Mr. Zahir Uddin Swapon, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Government of Bangladesh, whose participation underscored the importance of media and storytelling in advancing climate awareness and action.
A thought-provoking panel discussion moderated by Dr. Shahriar Hossain featured valuable insights from distinguished speakers and award-winning filmmakers. GTD Media Production CEO Fatema Akter Jumki remarked, “Close your eyes and imagine a world without trees—you cannot, because our survival and existence depend on them.”

Dr. Shahriar Hossain emphasized that climate action is everyone’s responsibility, stating that waste generation and consumption patterns are closely linked to environmental degradation. Award-winning filmmaker Fabeha Monir highlighted the lived realities of vulnerable communities, noting, “The marginalized do not understand climate change; they understand poverty. Every frame matters.”
Dr. Md. Mahbubur Rahman, Faculty Member at DIU and Executive Director of MORPH Bangladesh, reinforced that individual actions driven by care for the planet are, in themselves, acts of climate action.

Together, the festival demonstrated how storytelling, creativity, and collective responsibility can drive meaningful conversations and inspire action toward a more sustainable future.

06/06/2026

Lead paint remains one of the most preventable sources of toxic exposure to children, yet dangerous pigments like lead chromates continue to circulate through global trade.
According to Siddika Sultana, Executive Director of Environment and Social Development Organization-ESDO and Member of IPEN Steering Committee, “Despite Bangladesh having a mandatory 90 ppm limit for lead in decorative paints since 2018, ESDO’s most recent nationwide study found that 42.2% of tested samples still exceeded the legal limit. Of the 161 samples analyzed, 26.2% contained more than 1,000 ppm lead, and several samples exceeded 50,000 ppm, with the highest reaching 190,000 ppm.

On World Environment Day, IPEN is calling for global controls on lead chromates, the pigments used in lead paint.

Lead paint remains a major source of childhood lead exposure in many countries, and it is past time to eliminate lead paint globally to protect children’s health.

🔗 Read more: https://ipen.org/as-lead-paint-continues-to-threaten-childrens-health-groups-globally-call-for-controls-on-lead-chromates-pigments-used-in-lead-paint/

06/06/2026

From a modest beginning in 1990 to a leading global voice in environmental action, Happy 36th Anniversary to ESDO!

For over three decades, ESDO has been pioneering the global environmental movement in Bangladesh. Founded by Dr. Shahriar Hossain, steered by the strategic vision of Chairperson Syed Marghub Murshed, and brought to the global stage by Ms. Siddika Sultana, ESDO has proven that data-driven research creates unstoppable movements.

We aren't just celebrating the past; we are celebrating real, tangible change.
Thank you for standing with us for 36 extraordinary years.

05/06/2026

On the World Environment Day 2026, we present to you the first episode of Green Banter.

The first episode 'Silent Heat: The Methane Crisis Behind Climate Change' begins with a BAM emoji as we engage with the exchange of blazing questions, revealing top secrets, and peaking into the esteemed environmentalist- Dr. Shahriar Hossain's life from angles never known before.

Hosted by Ms. Ayesha Mostafa, an emerging environmentalist, the podcast dives deep into Dr. Shahriar Hossain's eventful journey in making ESDO one of the leading non-profit, research-based organizations in Bangladesh. This unveiled the rising environmental issues, such as the methane crisis. Through an informal discussion between the environmentalists, we get to learn more about Dr. Shahriar Hossain's vision and challenges in his personal as well as professional life.

Let's celebrate this Environment Day stirring important conversations, asking deep questions, and enriching our knowledge of the global climate change crisis and its drivers, especially methane.

04/06/2026

This is a proud moment for ESDO, for Bangladesh, for South Asia and for every community that has stood alongside us in this journey. Heartiest congratulations to our Executive Director, Ms. Siddika Sultana!

Ms. Sultana was elected to the Steering Committee of the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) for the 2026–2029 term, representing South Asia. The election took place at the 2026 IPEN General Assembly, where participating member organizations voted to constitute the new Steering Committee.

Ms. Sultana brings more than 20 years of experience in environmental health, chemical safety, and policy advocacy. She is the founding Director of the Asian Center for Environmental Health and has contributed significantly to Bangladesh's lead paint policy development, including conducting research on lead content in household paints. She is also working to incorporate green chemicals into our industrial manufacturing procedures. Her areas of work include toxic exposure reduction, occupational health and safety, gender equity, and capacity building.

Founded in 1998, IPEN is a global network of more than 600 public-interest organizations active in over 125 countries, working to advance safe chemicals policies, eliminate toxic substances, and protect public health. Ms. Sultana's participation in the Steering Committee is expected to further strengthen South Asia's engagement in global chemical safety governance.