Polythene must be restricted to protect future generations: Rizwana
Initiatives will be taken to ban the use of polythene bags at shopping malls from 1 October and at kitchen markets from 1 November
The use of polythene shopping bags must be restricted to protect future generations, Environment, Forests and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said today (29 September).
"Everyone should refrain from using polythene at their own responsibility. Actions against polythene producers will begin from 1 November," she told a seminar arranged by the Department of Environment (DoE) to raise public awareness about alternative products to banned polythene shopping bags.
Initiatives will be taken to ban the use of polythene bags at shopping malls from 1 October and at kitchen markets from 1 November, she added.
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Rizwana said the process of restricting polythene will be implemented in phases as per the law.
She said discussions are going on with shopping centres and store owners regarding this initiative.
The secretariat will be declared plastic-free by December, she said.
Environment Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed, DoE Director General Dr. Abdul Hamid, Director Rajinara Begum, President of the Shop Owners Association Muhammad Helal Uddin and Assistant Professor of Environmental Science Department at BUP Md. Arifur Rahman Bhuiyan, among others, spoke.
They discussed the harms of polythene and the necessity of its alternative products.
Earlier, the Environmental Adviser inaugurated a fair that showcased alternative products to banned polythene shopping bags and visited 24 stalls.
The fair featured environment-friendly products from both government and private entrepreneurs. Reusable bags, jute bags, paper bags and products made from bamboo and cane were displayed at the fair.
