Though a ban was imposed on polythene bags 11 years ago, production of such bags is still continuing unabated. This is being attributed to the facts that the authorities have not enforced the ban properly and have not provided any feasible alternative to users.
Green activists alleged that despite having enough knowledge about the adverse impact of polythene bags on the environment, the department of environment (DoE) has not taken satisfactory measures over these years, barring some routine drives.
The use of polythene bags was banned in Dhaka on 1 January 2002 and in Chittagong on 21 February 2002. The countrywide ban was imposed on 1 March 2002, except for 14 sectors, including those involving certain foods, medicines, cement and fertilizers. Yet poly-bags are being used widely, albeit in a different form.
Polythene, which is an organic polymer, remains unchanged for years, even below the soil. This causes serious environmental damage, as can be seen from the bags clogging streets, drains and ditches, and floating in open fields, ponds, canals and rivers.
Environmental activists pointed accusing fingers at the government for failing to implement the ban on the production of polythene bags and to take adequate steps to promote alternatives to polythene such as jute, cotton and paper bags.
Poribesh Bachao Andolon (Poba) chairman Abu Naser Khan blamed negligence as far as implementation of the law was concerned as well as irregularities in enforcement operations for the growing use of polythene bags.
“Though a long time has passed since the ban on polythene production was imposed, such production is still continuing unabated. The authorities have also failed to promote alternatives to polythene,” he added.
Khan further pointed out that both shopkeepers and consumers preferred to use polythene bags as they are cheap and convenient. Besides, there are no other cost-effective alternatives in the market.
He also argued that the existing laws were not sufficient to dissuade polythene bag manufacturers, and the existing penalties of Tk. 50,000 should be increased to Tk. 10 lakh and the maximum possible jail term from six months to 10 years.
Department of Environment (DoE) Muhammad Maududur Rashid Safdar told The Independent that the department is continuing its routine drives against the factories and shops that produce and sell banned polythene bags.
“The reality is that though production of polythene bags which are less than 55 microns thick is banned, the ban has not been implemented at the consumer level. So its use is still widespread and has not declined,” he said.
“Some dishonest plastic factories manufacture polythene bags under the cover of making other plastic products, as it is profitable to produce such bags. But we are trying our best. We have been unable to obtain optimum results as there is a shortage of manpower,” he said.
“If public awareness increases, and if we are also able to conduct repeated raids, we can get better results,” he said.
Regarding alternatives to polythene bags, he conceded, “It is a great problem that we still have not been able to provide any sustainable alternative to it. However, we are trying to find out alternatives.”
Retailers can make more profits from selling polythene bags compared to other kinds of bags, said Hasibur Rahman, a retailer from Karwanbazar. He said retailers could make profits of Tk. 10 to Tk. 15 from selling every kilogram of polythene bags of normal quality, which they sell for around Tk. 150-Tk. 200.
The manufacturers, distributors and sellers are well aware of the ban on sale of these items, so they sell them secretly, he said.
Abdul Khaleque, a fish seller of Agargaon Taltola, said he had been using the thin poly bags as each bag costs only Tk. 0.2 to Tk. 0.3, while each cotton bag costs Tk. 4 to Tk. 5.
Nowadays, polythene bags are being sold openly in Mirpur Section-1, Town Hall Bazar, Jatrabari Bazar and Chawk Bazar. Most of the illegal polythene traders easily find their way out of the police dragnet, as law enforcers are reluctant to nab them. The grounds they provide for not arresting them appear unconvincing.
A large number of clandestine factories is manufacturing the polybags in Mohammadpur, Lalbagh and Islam Bagh areas. Sources said small factories are paying the police so that they can operate and market the products.
Khan said cotton bags were available in the kitchen market immediately after the ban was enforced strictly in 2002. Some entrepreneurs introduced jute and paper substitutes, but they soon disappeared when the enforcement drive was scaled down, he added.
-With The Independent input
