Bangshal police arrested five people with a large quantity of banned polythene and a pickup truck in front of Asian Palace on Abul Hasnat Road in the capital's Bangshal area.
The arrestees were identified as Anam Fakhrul Islam (50), Md Habibur Rahman (26), Enamul Haque (28), Md Azizul Islam (35), and Md Zakir Sardar (32).
Acting on a tip-off, a team of Bangshal police station set up a checkpoint in the area on Wednesday evening. Around 6:35 pm, a pickup truck and three battery-run vans were stopped at the checkpoint. While the drivers attempted to flee, police detained them. However, one of them, known as Idris, managed to escape.
After searching the vehicles, police seized 116 sacks of illegal white polythene, 2,521 pounds of LDPE polythene rolls, three battery-operated vans, and an old pickup truck.
A case has been filed under the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act against the arrestees and the fugitive Idris with the police station, said Talebur Rahman of DMP media wing.
During preliminary interrogation, the arrestees admitted to collecting the banned polythene from Dhaka and Narayanganj and transporting it to supply to businesses.
Efforts are underway to arrest the fugitive Idris and take further legal action, police said.