A St Albans MP has visited Bangladesh to take part in a river clean project to remove plastic waste.
Anne Main MP took part in a little and plastic waste from the banks of the Surma River in Sylhet, Bangladesh last week.
Mrs Main travelled to the country as a part of a parliamentary delegation with representatives from the Conservative Friends of Bangladesh and the Conservative Friends of International Development.
Mrs Main currently chairs the all-party parliamentary group for the Prevention of Plastic Waste and has been raising awareness of the importance of reducing plastic waste during her visit.
Alair Rahman (St Albans constituent), Anne Main MP, Rafat Khan (St Albans constituent) photo: Office of Anne Main MP.
She also was joined by MP Paul Scully, MP Bob Blackman and a team of scouts and three representatives from the St Alban’s British Bangladeshi community.
Mrs Main said: “It was a privilege to meet and help the team of activists from Clean Surma Green.
“They are devoting their time to help improve the environment they live in. Ultimately, this is about raising awareness.
“Hopefully people, across Bangladesh, will see that it is important we look after our environment.
“plastic pollution is a major problem globally and developing nations like Bangladesh are badly impacted.”
(Left to Right): Anne Main MP, Paul Scully MP photo: Office of Anne Main MP.
Mrs Main during her trip also learnt about the issues of street children in the country.
She was joined by Mike Sherriff from St Albans and Chairman of Friends of Street Children Bangladesh.
They visited Local Education and Economic Development Organization (LEEDO) peace home for rescued street children in Dhake.
LEEDO was established by social and human rights activists and educators who aim to care for and improve the life chances for children forced to live on the Bangladesh streets.
(Left to Right): Anne Main MP, Rafat Khan (St Albans constituent) photo: Office of Anne Main MP
The peace home is the first permanent home specifically built for street children. The organisation has provided a home for more than 2,000 children in the last four years.
During her visit, Mrs Main spent time with the children living there and spent the afternoon painting a classroom.
The delegation also donated cricket equipment and stationary for the children.
Mrs Main added: “It was uplifting to see first-hand the vital work LEEDO is doing to help some of the most defenceless children in Bangladesh.
Anne Main MP with children from LEEDO photo: Office of Anne Main MP
“LEEDO provides these children with a lifeline so they can get on in life and receive the education they need to study and work.
“Some of the children have had truly harrowing experiences and have ended up at the peace home after finding themselves in dire circumstances.
“Whether that be as a consequence of sexual or physical violence, forced-labour, disability or family break down.”
To help support LEEDO go to:
https://www.goldengiving.com/wall/friends-of-street-children-bangladesh
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