The government has decided to enforce the ban on polythene bags almost after 22 years as the ban was imposed on the manufacture, import, marketing, sale, stock, distribution and commercial use of all kinds of polythene shopping bags in 2002.
The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has already directed the super shops not to use polythene shopping bags and polypropylene bags from October 1. No polythene shopping bags and polypropylene bags can be kept and given to customers in supershops from the date.
Now the ministry has decided to enforce the ban on polypropylene bags in all markets across the country from November 1.
Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Tuesday said that legal measures will be taken in all supermarkets from October 1 and in all markets from November 1 to enforce the ban on the use of polythene and polypropylene bag
The government will strictly enforce the ban on production, storage, transportation, marketing, and use of polythene and polypropylene shopping bags. A nationwide drive will be launched also against polythene producers from November 1, she added.
Rizwana made the announcements during a discussion on the challenges and possibilities of banning polythene shopping bags. The discussion was held at the office of the Mohammadpur Town Hall Market Traders' Association.
Prior to the discussion meeting, the adviser inaugurated a clean-up campaign and distributed alternative materials to polythene in the market.
She said 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 Bangladesh Jute Mills Association, she added.
Supermarkets have already placed their orders, and arrangements are in place to meet their demands, Rizwana said.
The adviser emphasised that the use of poly bags has been illegal since 2002, and actions will now be taken to strictly enforce the law in markets as well.
The government imposed the ban on polybags on April 8 in 2002 through an amendment to the ‘Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995’. As per the amended law, if anyone is found violating the ban he would face an imprisonment of 1-10 years, or a fine of Tk 50,000-10 lakh, or both.
The High Court on January 6 in 2020 asked the authorities concerned to enforce the plastic ban seriously and issued an order to reduce use of polybags. The court also asked the authorities concerned to remove polybags completely from all restaurants and shopping malls, especially in coastal regions, by 2022.
The directive was issued after hearing a writ petition jointly filed by the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) and 10 other environmental organisations.
Despite the government ban and the High Court order, the polybags remain ubiquitous in defiance of law.
BELA’s chief executive Syeda Rizwana Hasan has become adviser to the present interim government and she holds the charge of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change. She has taken the decision just after a month of taking charge.
Plastic is a non-perishable commodity and throwing away used plastic bags not only increases garbage but also leads to air pollution when burned. Similarly, these bags cause sewerage lines to become clogged, which create drainage problems.
