Ecologist, Journalist & Social Justice Advocate
House # 8/1, Block-C, Lalmatia, Dhaka-1207 BANGLADESH
Email: shahriar25@gmail.com

Dr. Shahriar Hossain is the pioneer and the key personality of global anti polythene / Plastic movement. He is a man who had spent the 13-year campaign and lobbying against the plastic bags and was the main architect of the ban of polythene bags in Bangladesh. His idea and contribution marked as millstone to make a great change in the field of environmental health, environmental protections and nature conservation. Dr. Shahriar is a committed personality for social development and ecological rights. 

He initiated a concept of eco-friendly livelihood in Bangladesh for a sustainable environment and development. On his concept he started working to develop and modeling an eco-village and Zero Waste Community in rural Bangladesh. Science 1990 he is serving the poor people through ESDO, he is an ideal personality in Bangladesh because he is fighting against the evil causes of environmental degradation and plastic pollution. He renders his service with the notion of volunteerism. From 1990 to date he serves Environment and Social Development Organization-ESDO as a full time volunteer, Dedicated to combating plastic and toxic pollution at the global level.

From the childhood education to Ph.D. Shahriar’s dream comes to truth to be an environmental activist. He has a clear mission to serve for nature and life. In the field of social services in Bangladesh and the Asia, he started with a self-effacing approach for social and environmental changes to reduction of extreme poverty in early 90es. To further his ability to recognize and address environmental hazards, he obtained an MS in Environmental Studies (1995) and a Ph.D. in Urban Ecology (2001) from Duke University NC. USA.  The title of his thesis was ‘Plastic Pollution: Consequences to the Environment and Human Life.’  He is a Fellow of the Center for Environmental Education (Duke University), Center of Environmental Studies (Taxes University of Al-Paso, USA), ASHOKA: Innovators for the Public (USA), and the Advocacy Institute (Washington, DC), among others.  Dr. Shahriar is the founder Executive Director of Environment and Social Development Organization-ESDO and was served as the Country Representative of Bangladesh for the Advocacy Institute of Washington D.C. He also served as visiting faculty of Department of Public Administration, University of Dhaka, since 2007-date; School of Social Justice and Peace of Georgetown University, Washington D.C. USA, summer session on May-June 2006 & 2007; Nicolas School of Earth Science, Duke University NC, USA; Winter session on August – September 2001; School of International Relations, JNU, New Delhi, India from June-July 2002- June 2004.

Now he is working as a freelance environmental journalist, ecologist and a social justice advocate. Dr. Shahriar is a elected member of the Board of Director of the Pacific Basin Consortium, he is the Executive Vice President of the World Alliance for Mercury-free Dentistry and Steering committee member of IPEN and the Member of UNEP expert panel. He also associated with GAIA and Zero Mercury Working Group.  Dr. Shahriar is helping the public to develop the understanding, desire and skills needed to identify and address environmental challenges particularly on environmental economic and sustainable livelihood, conservation of biological diversity and wildlife protection. He advocates the use of environmentally friendly products while discouraging the use of plastic and polythene. Shahriar’s strategy is distinctive in its focus on women – the largest consumers of these products – and children, who will determine the future treatment of the environment and are the most receptive to new ideas.