Environment, Forests and Climate Change Saber Hossain Chowdhury on Tuesday said from January 2019 to December 2023, the Environment Ministry conducted 2,516 raids for the crime of production and use of banned polythene and realised fine of Tk 6.17 crore in 4,207 cases.

The Minister said this in Parliament while replying to a query of ruling Awami League MP elected from Laxmipur Nur Uddin Chowdhury.

He also said that 170 people have been imprisoned for various periods and 2071.37 metric tons of polythene, seeds (দানা) and raw materials have been seized. Some 16 regular cases have also been filed in these connections.

In response to a written question from Noor Uddin Chowdhury, the Environment Minister said that considering the harmful aspects of polythene, the government has already imposed restrictions on the production and marketing of polythene, which is harmful to the environment.

He mentioned that to stop use of polythene, Production, marketing and use of polythene of various thicknesses is prohibited by law.

Read: 500 brick kilns identified as most polluting: Minister 

Highlighting the various steps taken by the ministry, the minister said that mobile court is being conducted regularly with the executive magistrate of the Department of Environment and the executive magistrate of the district administration to stop the banned polythene shopping bags. 

From July 2010, under the enforcement program of the Department of Environment, banned polythene manufacturing factories are being evicted, compensation is being collected from the owner, he said.

He said that from January 2019 to December 2023, a total of 2,516 raids were conducted and 4,207 cases were filed and a fine of Tk 6.17 crore was collected.

Some 170 people have been sentenced to various terms of imprisonment and 2071.37 metric tons of polythene, grains and raw materials have been seized. 

Apart from this, he said, 16 regular cases have been filed. Various initiatives have been taken to increase public awareness.

Saber Hossain Chowdhury said that in the current government's election manifesto, the use of environmentally friendly decomposable plastic instead of plastic products has been included to control the adverse effects of plastic products on the environment. 

Read: Country has to move on from brick kilns to eco-friendly bricks: Saber 

The government has already formulated the 'Solid Waste Management Rules, 2021', the Minister said.

He said that 5R (Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recovery) policy has been taken as a basic principle in the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2021. 

Following the High Court's order to stop the use of single use plastic, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has identified 40 upazilas of 12 districts of the coastal region as coastal areas and formulated a 3-year action plan to stop the use of single use plastic in that area.