Agriculture plays a vital role in Bangladesh economy contributing more than 15% to its national GDP during 2017-18 Fiscal Year.  While the agricultural production has more than tripled during the last two decades, soils in several geographic locations have been degraded and polluted by several factors. World Soil Day (WSD) is held annually on 5th December as a means to focus attention on the importance of healthy soil and advocating for the sustainable management of soil resources.
In Bangladesh, world soil day 2018 has been organized by Soil Resource Development Institute (SRDI) as continuation of previous years. FAO Bangladesh, Practical Action and Soil Science Society of Bangladesh took part on this event. Md. Nasirujjaman, Sectary in charge, Ministry of Agriculture was the chief guest and Mr. Bidhan Kumar Bhandar, Director, SRDI was the chair of the event. Mr. Robert Simpson, Country Director, FAO Bangladesh; Hasin Jahan, Country Director, Practical Action Bangladesh and Prof. Dr. S.M. Imamul Huq, Vice Chancellor of Barisal University was the special guest.
Government officials from Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Agriculture Extension, Department of Environment, Department of Livestock Services, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council, SRDI and others were present in the event. Soil scientist, researchers, academicians, students and officials from FAO Bangladesh, Practical Action and other NGO also present in the event. Around 200 people celebrated the day with great enthusiasm. The day started through a rally in the morning with the slogan “Be the Solution to Soil Pollution”. Later, a seminar, a soil Olympiad, a competition on assessing best Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices in Bangladesh and soil care award 2018 were arranged. Three papers were presented in the seminar about the soil pollution and probable solutions for soil resources development in Bangladesh. Soil care award was provided in three different disciplines for their outstanding contribution in scientific, education and agriculture farming sectors.
Md. Nasirujjaman, Sectary in charge, Ministry of Agriculture has mentioned the key factors affecting soil degradation in Bangladesh. He stated that “Plant species that are not environmental friendly should be avoided and climate smart agricultures like no tillage cultivation, use of vermi-compost, conservation agriculture for soil management etc. should encouraged for sustainable management of land”.
Mr. Robert Simpson, Country Director, FAO Bangladesh stated that ‘soil protect our livelihood and to combat soil pollution we need to join our forces and turn our determination to action’. 
Soil pollution is a worldwide problem which degrades our soils, poison the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe, posing serious risk to food security and human health. Most of pollutants come from human activities. Soils have great potential to filter and buffer contaminants, but this capacity is finite. It is the time to fight soil pollution. Be the solution to soil pollution.