A giant 50-foot sculpture made from five tonnes of plastic waste has been erected on Cox’s Bazar beach to raise awareness about marine pollution and the harmful effects of plastic waste.

The sculpture, made from discarded plastic collected from the beaches of Inani, Teknaf and Saint Martin’s Island, was created by artists from the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Dhaka.

The towering structure, featuring a monster-like figure holding an uprooted coconut tree, symbolises the growing threat of plastic pollution to the marine environment and human life.

Located on the sandy stretch between Sugandha and Sea-Gull points, the sculpture is drawing the attention of tourists and local visitors.

Organisers said the initiative aims to encourage people to reduce plastic use, dispose of waste responsibly and recycle discarded materials.

The project also highlights how plastic waste left behind by people can damage marine ecosystems and threaten biodiversity.

The sculpture serves as a stark reminder that plastic pollution is an increasingly serious environmental challenge, requiring greater public awareness and collective action.