Workshop on Microplastic Pollution Held at BAU

A workshop on microplastic pollution in the Brahmaputra River and its potential impact on fish and aquatic food chains was held at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU). The event was organized by the Department of Fisheries Management under a research project titled "Transboundary Microplastics Contaminations in Fish and Aquatic Food Chain along Brahmaputra River."

The workshop took place at noon on Thursday (February 27) at the conference room of the Faculty of Fisheries Dean’s Office. Experts discussed various aspects of the research project, the impact of microplastic pollution on the Brahmaputra River and surrounding aquatic ecosystems, and potential mitigation strategies.

The event was chaired by Professor Dr. Md. Rafiqul Islam Sarder, Dean of the Faculty of Fisheries, and moderated by Professor Dr. Harunur Rashid, the project’s head . BAU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A.K. Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan attended as the chief guest.

Researchers from three different countries participated in the workshop both in person and virtually. Indian researcher Rajdeep Dutta and Bhutanese researcher Geeta Dahl joined the discussions via Zoom.

During his presentation, Professor Dr. Harunur Rashid highlighted that microplastic pollution in natural water bodies is a growing global concern, with the Brahmaputra River playing a significant role in this crisis. South Asia ranks as the world’s second-largest contributor to plastic pollution, with vast amounts of plastic waste flowing into the Bay of Bengal via the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Irrawaddy rivers. The research project aims to assess transboundary microplastic pollution in the Brahmaputra River and its impact on fish and the aquatic food chain.

BAU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. A.K. Fazlul Haque Bhuiyan expressed deep concern over the growing threat of microplastic pollution, particularly in India and Bangladesh. He emphasized that plastic waste could severely disrupt food chains and pose significant health risks.