Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, has announced that strict monitoring to end the use of polythene shopping bags will commence from November 1. Additionally, actions will be taken against polythene shopping bag manufacturers. She clarified that only plastic shopping bags are being targeted, and legal actions will be enforced against any supermarket providing them.
The announcement came during a special meeting held at the Ministry of Textiles and Jute in Bangladesh Secretariat, where the advisor was the chief guest. The meeting discussed the implementation of the 2010 Mandatory Jute Packaging Act and encouraged the public to use jute bags as an alternative to plastic.
Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan emphasized that if people stop using plastic bags, production will halt. Public awareness is crucial, and any intentional negligence will be met with action. She further stated that initiatives will be taken to help people understand the harmful impacts of plastic bags so that they voluntarily avoid their use.
Brigadier General (Retd.) Dr. M Sakhawat Hossain, Advisor to the Ministry of Textiles and Jute and the Ministry of Shipping, added that increasing the use of jute bags is essential. He assured that necessary steps will be taken to ensure an adequate supply of jute bags, and raw jute exports will be halted if needed.
Also present were the Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, Md. Abdur Rauf, Director General of the Jute Department, Zeenat Ara, and representatives from various business associations.