Despite the huge outcry of environmentalists for the proper implementation of the law to prevent the production, import, marketing and use of plastic bags, the government seems hardly bothered about the consequences of the mass use of polythene.
Earlier, 12 organisations served a legal notice to the government and plastic producers in this regard.
But who cares! The use of plastic bags had declined for a short period when the government had imposed embargo on production and use of it. However, it did not last for long.
Rather, the whimsical permission of using plastic bags over 100 microns in packaging resulted in uncontrolled production, marketing and use of it again.
The government enacted the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act in 2010, but inconvenience, unavailability, high price, and lack of awareness about using jute led to the spread of polythene use for every purpose, which had an adverse impact on the environment.
We know that polythene is not biodegradable and is largely to blame for the filling up of canals and drainage systems in the city.
We generate around 1,700 tonnes of plastic waste daily and the import of plastic raw materials costs Tk 2,000 crore annually.
The sad reality is that no government agency has been able to control the production, distribution, usage and dumping of polybags, and the use of polythene shopping bags is widespread.
We need a nationwide campaign to raise people’s awareness of what polythene is doing to our environment.
We must say, the government should vigorously promote synthesised polymer from jute fibre that was discovered by a scientist at Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation back in 2012.
Jute-based packaging bags should be introduced on a wide scale because it is biodegradable and it is also water and air-resistant.
Jute polymer, as it is known, can carry about one and a half times the load of a traditional polythene bag while being environmentally friendly.
The very fact is that it is perishable in nature. So, it could be the answer to our environmental problems. Moreover, the canals, waterways and drainage systems would be free from the dreaded polythene and plastic products.
Besides, large-scale production of jute polymer would help revive our jute industry and also save farmers engaged in jute cultivation.
