The government’s initiative to stop the use of illegal polythene bags is not achieving significant success due to the lack of available and affordable alternative shopping bags. No visible impact of the government’s drives against polythene bags is seen in different kitchen markets, grocery shops and vendors, despite one month having elapsed since the ban was enforced on November 1 last. Environmental activists, ordinary people and shop owners said the government should focus on developing suitable and affordable alternatives alongside stopping the production of polythene bags and imposing barriers on the import of polythene raw materials. “The decision to stop the use of polythene bags is the right step. But it would be tough to stop it without giving the people effective alternatives, no matter how much pressure is exerted,” said Dr Lelin Chowdhury, Executive President of Poribesh Bachao Andolan (Poba). Noting that jute bags have bright potential as alternatives to polythene bags, he suggested the government make jute bags cheap and available. If needed, the government should provide subsidies to make jute bags competitive as they are bio-friendly and environment-friendly. 15 MT polythene bags seized in Sylhet, shops fined Tk 1.1 lakh Regarding the government’s earlier abortive effort to stop the use of polythene in the early 2000s, the environmental activist said the achievement could not be upheld as the then government failed to provide an effective alternative following the ban on polythene at that time. He said it is not an easy task to change the long-standing habit of using polythene bags. “We’ll have to give people effective alternatives to polythene bags; otherwise, this initiative would not be a complete success this time as well,” said Lenin Chowdhury. Govt taking action against illegal polythene producers: Environment Minister Environmental activist Prof Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder said when polythene bags were first banned in 2002, the people refrained from using them for some days, fearing punishment. However, they started using polythene again due to the lack of suitable alternative bags. “This time, there is focus only on the enforcement of the ban on polythene bags. No step is noticed regarding manufacturing alternatives,” he said. Dr Majumder, the Chairman of the Department of Environmental Science at Stamford University Bangladesh, said polythene bags are manufactured in some 1,000 small factories in Dhaka and outside Dhaka. So, the government needs to pay more attention to shutting down the factories and creating barriers to the import of its raw materials, he said. Over 2500 raids carried out against production and use of banned polythene: Saber The strict enforcement of laws, creating public awareness, stopping the manufacturing of polythene bags, and developing cheap alternative bags should be done simultaneously, said Dr Majumder, who is also the Founder Director of the Centre for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) at the university. Moin Uddin, a resident of West Shewrapara in the capital, was seen using four polythene bags to carry vegetables and grocery items while returning from the kitchen market in West Shewrapara on Wednesday.  

Supermarket customers have expressed support for the recent ban on polythene bags, but raised concerns about the higher cost of alternative shopping bags, which they say has increased their expenses. They said the supermarkets should offer cheaper eco-friendly shopping bags or freebie shopping bags for small items.   Supermarket staff also said most of their clients appreciate the move to put an end to the use of polythene bags, but a small number of them show a negative attitude to paying for shopping bags. The no-more-polythene-bag policy is being enforced in super shops from October 1 as part of the government move to stop the use of polythene bags in the country in phases. Visiting Swapno outlet in Shewrapara on Wednesday, it was seen they were offering customers different types of eco-friendly shopping bags at various prices. Shahina Sultana, a customer of the outlet on Wednesday said, “We are appreciating the move to ban polythene bags in supermarkets but the prices of non-polythene bags are high to some extent, which will raise our costs.” Polythene bags banned in superstores from Oct 1: Environment Adviser The supermarkets should also offer freebie shopping bags for small items or cheaper shopping bags, otherwise they would go to grocery shops, said Shahina, who is an employee of non-government organisation RTM International. Another client of the outlet, Pijush Chandra Shil, who is also a private university student, said banning the polythene bags is a right decision. “We’re welcoming it for the sake of protecting the environment,” he said. Manager of the Swapno outlet Shawon Islam said they are offering the shopping bags at various prices from Tk 6 to Tk 16. Though most of the customers purchase the eco-friendly bags with smiling faces, some others show that they are not willing to pay money for shopping bags. “But we’re facing no major problem after implementation of the no-polythene bag policy in their outlet. Now we need to convince a small portion of clients to pay for shopping bags,” he said. Shawon however said they offer freebie paper bags for some items including rice, fish and pulse.  Shadat Rasel, a customer of Agora outlet in Shewrapara, said the polythene bags should have been banned 20-25 years ago as it harms the environment. Environment Advisor Syeda Rizwana urges for using alternatives to polythene shopping bags “It’s a good initiative. We’re ready to pay for shopping bags. We need to clean non-disposable polythene and plastics to protect the environment. Besides, these items are not hygienic,” said Rasel, a private service-holder.   Manager of Agora outlet Delwar Hossain Jibon said it will take time for the customers to become accustomed to paying for shopping bags. “When the ban on the use of polythene bags is enforced everywhere, a positive mindset would be developed among the people to pay for eco-friendly shopping bags,” he said. On September 9, Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the use of polythene and polypropylene shopping bags would be banned across all superstores in Bangladesh starting October 1. With a view to stop the use of polythene bags completely in the country, the Environment Adviser on Tuesday last said the government will strictly enforce the ban on production, storage, transportation, marketing and use of polythene. A nationwide anti-polythene drive will start in all kitchen markets on November 1 next, she said. Microplastic in Human Blood: Health Risks and Dangers

The Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) gave its residents and traders seven days to stop the sale and use of polythene bags.