Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Saturday said jute bags would be provided to the public as an alternative to polythene shopping bags under a government initiative that includes subsidised distribution. 

“A project has already been undertaken in this regard and the Ministry of Textiles and Jute will collaborate to implement it,” she said at a seminar and cleanliness campaign held at the Senate Bhaban of Dhaka University, focused on measures to prevent plastic pollution.

To raise awareness about using jute bags, she mentioned, a campaign will be launched.

“New entrepreneurs will also be developed around jute bag production,” she added, stressing that institutions like JDPC, SME Foundation and Joyeeta Foundation will be engaged to ensure a sustainable system.

Rizwana said everyone must work together to tackle plastic pollution. “We ourselves must stop the use of unnecessary plastics,” she noted, adding that the perception that there are no alternatives to plastic is incorrect.

Government initiatives cannot be implemented overnight, but they will be executed gradually, she assured.

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Professor Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dhaka, presided over the seminar.

Among the speakers were, Dr Farhina Ahmed, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Dr Md Kamruzzaman, ndc, Director General of the Department of Environment; Marian Rabe Knavelsrud, Deputy Head of Mission, Royal Norwegian Embassy, Dhaka; Prof Dr Mamun Ahmed, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic), University of Dhaka; Dr Zaki Uz Zaman, Country Representative of UNIDO Bangladesh; Dr Afia Shahnaz, Dhaka Medical College; Prof Dr Md Mofizur Rahman, BUET.

Adviser Rizwana Hasan also called upon the University of Dhaka to declare its campus free from single-use plastics and noise pollution.