A two-day cleaning drive has been conducted on Saint Martin's Island by the Department of Environment and Bangladesh Sustainable Alliance (BSA), collecting 930kg of plastic waste.

A nine-month ban on tourist movement is currently in effect on the country's only coral island.

During this period, a month-long cleaning programme is underway to improve the island's environment and ecosystem. Led by the environment ministry, the initiative is called the "Clean-Up Program," said Cox's Bazar DoE Deputy Director Zamir Uddin yesterday.

The two-day drive was conducted as part of the first phase of the project.

The collected waste included single-use polythene, plastic cups, water bottles, plastic straws, toothpaste packets, shampoo sachets, and chocolate wrappers, according to the Upazila administration.

On February 11, a volunteer training programme was held with 266 participants, including students, teachers, representatives of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, and environmental organisations.

On February 12, volunteers collected 410 kg of plastic waste, followed by 520 kg on February 13. Over three days, they cleaned the island's beaches and surrounding areas.