Al Mamun Harun Ur Rashid :
Experts stress that addressing the widespread use of polythene in Bangladesh requires more than piecemeal enforcement and fines.
A coordinated strategy, including the development of viable alternatives, is essential to combat plastic pollution effectively, they argue.
Plastic pollution is a severe environmental issue in Bangladesh. In 2010, the country ranked 10th among the top 20 nations producing mismanaged plastic waste worldwide.
By December 2021, Bangladesh remained a leading contributor to plastic pollution, driven by inadequate waste management and a prevailing throwaway culture in urban areas.
A 2020 study by the Centre for Policy Dialogue revealed that Dhaka alone produced 646 tonnes of plastic waste, constituting only 10 per cent of the city’s total waste.
Of this, 48 per cent went to landfills, 37 per cent was recycled, and the rest was either dumped in rivers or discarded improperly.
The prevalent use of polythene bags significantly contributes to this problem.
Despite efforts to curb the problem, experts caution that previous attempts to ban polythene have been ineffective.
In 2002, a law was introduced to prohibit polythene bags, yet enforcement was lacking. Small and medium enterprises began offering alternatives, such as paper bags, but a lack of sustained governmental action allowed polythene use to rebound.
Engineer Md Abdus Sohban, President of Paribesh O Jolbayu Poriborton Andolon (PARIJA) and former Director General of the Department of Environment (DoE), emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach before implementing a polythene ban.
He criticised the current interim government’s approach, stating it lacked preparation and clear alternatives.
“Before enforcing the ban, we need a clear plan and large-scale alternatives to polythene,” he said. “Without this, it’s just a half-hearted effort.”
To reduce polythene use effectively, Abdus Sohban suggests focusing on several key areas.
Firstly, he advocates for closer regulation of production sources, including tighter controls on polythene manufacturing.
This would require collaboration between the Department of Environment, industry stakeholders, and law enforcement.
Secondly, he recommends monitoring bonded warehouses to prevent the import of raw materials used in polythene production.
Government agencies, such as the National Board of Revenue, should work with industry leaders to manage this supply chain.
Lastly, Abdus Sohban calls for stricter market monitoring to ensure polythene use is curbed at the consumer level.
The Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO) reports that over 200 factories in Dhaka produce polythene bags, operating in two shifts and generating 500-700 tonnes daily.
Additionally, around 350 factories in the city recycle plastic, many of them concentrated in Old Dhaka, with large wholesale markets in areas like Karwan Bazar and Chawkbazar.
Despite some enforcement efforts, the government’s current measures remain weak. Abdus Sohban criticised the ongoing enforcement drives, describing them as “scattered” and ineffective. “Nominal fines won’t stop the use of polythene.
If we fail this time, it will be much harder to implement the law in the future. People will stop respecting it,” he warned.
Abdus Sohban suggests that targeting polythene use in wet markets, kitchen markets, and shopping malls could reduce consumption by up to 80 per cent.
Remaining uses, such as packaging for liquid products, could also be gradually phased out with alternative solutions.
One of the most concerning aspects of polythene pollution is its impact on health, as polythene waste often ends up in rivers and water bodies, breaking down into microplastics.
These are ingested by aquatic animals, entering the food chain and ultimately reaching humans, with studies linking microplastics to various health issues, including cancer.
“If we want to protect future generations from the harmful effects of polythene, all stakeholders need to come together,” Abdus Sohban urged.
Environment and Forest Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan announced that from 1 October, the government would enforce the existing ban on polythene and polypropylene bags in all supermarkets, with legal action taken against producers from 1 November.