Syeda
Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate
Change, announced that polythene and polypropylene bags will be banned in all
supermarkets from October 1 and in all markets from November 1. To enforce the
existing ban on the use of such bags, legal measures will be implemented from
October 1 in supermarkets and from November 1 in markets. Additionally, actions
will be taken against polythene producers from November 1. The advisor
mentioned that everyone has sufficient time, and the government is also working
on providing alternatives.
Environment
Adviser made these announcements during a discussion meeting on the challenges
and possibilities of banning polythene shopping bags, held at the office of the
Mohammadpur Town Hall Market Traders’ Association.
Prior to the meeting, the Adviser inaugurated a clean-up campaign and distributed alternative materials to polythene in the market. Bins and permanent notice boards were also installed for collecting polythene and other plastic packaging.
Rizwana
Hasan stated that the ban on plastic bags in supermarkets is not a unilateral
decision by the government but has been agreed upon in consultation with
supermarket owners. Alternatives such as jute, fabric, and paper bags will be
provided by 20-25 companies, including the Bangladesh Jute Mills Association.
Supermarkets have already placed their orders, and arrangements are in place to
meet their demands.
The
Adviser emphasized that the use of polythene bags has been illegal since 2002,
and actions will now be taken to strictly enforce the law in markets as well.
Secretary
and Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Director General and
Director of the Department of Environment, and President of Mohammadpur Town
Hall Market Traders’ Association were present at the event.