Green activists urge govt to stop production of polythene bags
May 31, 2009
Green activists on Saturday called on the government to stop production of polythene bags by enforcing the existing ban on its marketing and use. They made the call while addressing a roundtable on ‘preventing use of polythene bags and plastic goods’ organised by Bangladesh Paribesh Andolan at the National Press Club. The speakers suggested formation of a cell comprising both government and non-government organisations concerned for proper implementation of the ban on production and marketing of poly bags.
They also stressed the need for providing incentives to alternative sectors and creating awareness among the people of use of poly bags. The programme officer of Work for a Better Bangladesh Trust, Nazmul Karim Sabuj, read out the keynote paper at the discussion. In the keynote, Nazmul Karim said polythene shopping bags were introduced in Bangladesh nearly two decades ago and massive use of poly bags are destroying the country’s jute and other handicraft industries.
‘Use of polythene is not only polluting environment, but also it is threatening our national economy,’ he added.
The roundtable cited lack of political commitment and poor monitoring system as major barrier to implementing the ban on marketing and use of poly bags.
The BAPA vice-president, ASM Shahjahan, also former adviser to the caretaker government, said the government should work out a strategy to compel the people to abide by laws to implement the ban on use of poly bags.
The roundtable also criticised the immediate past interim government for ignoring the environmental issue during its two-year regime.
‘Production and marketing of poly bags increased by more than 60 per cent during the regime of
the interim government,’ BAPA general secretary MA Matin said.
‘Use of poly bags reduced in 2002 and
2003 but later it spread alarmingly because of patronage of the governments,’ Environment and Social Development Organisation adviser Hossain Shahriar said.
Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation manager (quality control) Nazrul Islam Khan, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripaksha DAP project manager Tapan Kumar Nath, Bangladesh Environment Directorate deputy director Ziaul Huq, BAPA polythene bags and plastic goods prevention committee convener Bazlul Huq Khandokar, architect Fatema Begum Mita, environment-friendly shopping bags manufacturing association president Mohammad Yahia and organasing secretary Qazi Mozhid Hashem, among others, spoke at the programme.
Source: New Age
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