Staff Reporter
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor 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 Advisor 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 Advisor 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 Advisor 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.