Staff Reporter :
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, has announced that the use of polythene and polypropylene bags will be banned in supermarkets starting on 1 October, with the ban extending to all kitchen markets from 1 November.
This move is part of the government’s efforts to enforce the existing ban on such bags, with legal action to follow for non-compliance.
“We are set to implement the law from 1 October in supermarkets and from 1 November in kitchen markets. Additionally, from 1 November, we will launch operations against polythene manufacturers. Everyone is being given ample time to adapt, and we are also working on providing alternatives,” Rizwana said during a discussion at Town Hall in Mohammadpur, Dhaka, on Tuesday.
The meeting, organised by the Dhaka North City Corporation’s (DNCC) Market Traders’ Association, focused on the challenges and opportunities in phasing out polythene shopping bags.
Prior to the discussion, the environment adviser inaugurated a cleanup drive at the Town Hall kitchen market and distributed alternative materials to replace polythene bags. She also launched the installation of bins and permanent notice boards to collect existing polythene packaging from the market.
Rizwana highlighted that jute, fabric, and paper bags will be the primary alternatives to plastic and polypropylene bags. The Bangladesh Jute Mills Association, along with 20-25 companies, will be supplying these alternatives. Supermarkets have already placed their orders, and arrangements have been made to meet demand.
“There’s nothing new about this ban. It has been legally enforced since 2002. While we have conducted operations in various polythene production sites, the markets have never been targeted, allowing the unchecked flow of polythene bags,” she said, reinforcing the government’s long-standing stance against polythene use.