Environment and Social Development Organization -ESDO

13/07/2026

Every monsoon, Bangladesh faces a battle for survival.

Floods devastate homes, farmland, and livelihoods, but their impact goes far beyond water damage. They threaten our nation’s food security, raising prices, deepening poverty, and endangering nutrition for millions.

Dr. Shahriar Hossain’s op-ed in The Daily Observer reminds us: disaster preparedness must go hand in hand with resilience, enforcement, and sustainable solutions.

🔗 Full article link in comments.

12/07/2026

Plastic doesn’t vanish, it lingers in our streets, rivers, and oceans, silently harming every form of life.

This Plastic Free July, let’s choose resilience over convenience. Carry your own bag, sip from a reusable cup, and say no to single‑use plastics. Together, we can build a cleaner, safer future.

11/07/2026

With a median age of just 26.3 years, Bangladesh is home to one of the world's most dynamic youth populations. This World Population Day, we align with the global theme: "Realizing the hopes and aspirations of young people today and for the future."

We recognize that Bangladeshis are one of the most 'at-risk' demographies fighting climate change impacts. True development is not just about demographic numbers; it is about human rights and opportunities. For Bangladesh to secure a sustainable future, we must prioritize:

Equal access to quality education and tech-driven skills
Universal health coverage and informed reproductive agency
Climate-resilient jobs to protect our urbanizing population

Let’s empower our youth to make informed choices and design their own futures. When we invest in young Bangladeshis today, we build a resilient nation tomorrow!

09/07/2026

09/07/2026

Plastic credits may seem like an effective solution to environmental challenges, but behind their promise of neutrality lies a complex web of structural flaws, infrastructure gaps, and shifted responsibilities that demand critical scrutiny.

Learn more about the challenges this system faces.

08/07/2026

ESDO participated in the Regional Webinar on Country Situation Reports: Phthalates and Bisphenols in South Asia, organized by IPEN, which brought together experts and partner organizations from Bangladesh, India, and Nepal to discuss the current status of phthalates and bisphenols, hazardous plastic chemicals known for their endocrine-disrupting effects. The webinar featured a global overview of the latest scientific evidence and policy developments, followed by country presentations highlighting the production, use, exposure pathways, health impacts, regulatory landscape, and policy gaps associated with these chemicals.

Representing Bangladesh, Ms. Sadmeen Sadaf Jahan, Assistant Program Officer at ESDO, presented the key findings of the report Phthalates and Bisphenols: Country Situation in Bangladesh. She highlighted Bangladesh's growing plastic industry, reliance on imported phthalates and bisphenols, evidence of human and environmental exposure, existing policy gaps, and the need for stronger chemical safety governance. During the interactive discussion, she emphasized the importance of establishing a national biomonitoring system to generate robust evidence on human exposure and underscored the need for stronger regional collaboration in research, policy development, and advocacy to reduce exposure to hazardous plastic additives across South Asia.

The webinar concluded with a shared call for strengthening scientific evidence, improving monitoring and transparency, advancing harmonized policies, and fostering regional cooperation to better protect human health and the environment from hazardous plastic chemicals.

ESDO extends its sincere appreciation to IPEN, Toxics Link, CEPHED, all speakers, and participants for contributing to this important regional dialogue and advancing collective efforts toward safer chemicals management in South Asia.

07/07/2026

📢 Reminder: Regional Webinar on Phthalates & Bisphenols in South Asia

Join us tomorrow, 8 July 2026 (2:30–4:00 PM BD time) for an important discussion organized by

This webinar will highlight findings from country situation reports developed by Toxics Link (India), ESDO (Bangladesh), and CEPHED (Nepal), examining the production, use, exposure pathways, health impacts, policy landscape, and regulatory gaps of these hazardous plastic chemicals.

🔎 Key focus:
-Sharing report findings
-Identifying regional trends & policy gaps
-Exchanging lessons learned
-Exploring opportunities for collaboration & advocacy

🗓️ Date: 8 July 2026
⏰ Time: 2:30–4:00 PM BD time
📍 Registration link in the comments

06/07/2026

Waste to energy is a false solution. Don’t fall for it!

Every year governments around the world propose WtE strategies to citizens marketing it as a miraculous solution to the mounting plastic challenge. In reality, the initiatives are a grand but opaque scheme to establish an unrelated technological solution to an overproduction issue.

When you burn plastic, it does not disappear. Deadly chemicals are released after incineration. Where do the toxics go?

The toxins simply become invisible.

Follow the true solution: reduce plastic production and consumption, reuse products and mindfully segregate waste.

06/07/2026

Dr. Shahriar Hossain’s latest op-ed in The Business Standard highlights a critical public health issue: toxic chemicals in children’s toys. While Bangladesh’s new gazette mandating toy safety standards is a milestone, enforcement and awareness remain the real challenge. This piece calls for stronger monitoring, accountability, and collective action to ensure every child grows up safe from hidden hazards.
🔗 Read the full article in the comments.

The focus of ESDO is to build and promote a safe, diverse and sustainable global environment, while simultaneously advancing the socioeconomic and cultural wellbeing of the people of Bangladesh.