60,000 kg of polythene seized in nationwide drive

A total of 438 organisations have been fined around Tk 2.87 million for the production, distribution, and use of polythene bags

Mobile courts run by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change have seized 60,000 kg of polythene and administered fines of nearly Tk 2.9 million over the past two months in a nationwide drive against the use of illegal polythene bags.

Additional Secretary Tapan Kumar Biswas gave the updated figures after monitoring operations conducted to prevent the use of polythene at the Hatirpool and Palashi wet markets in the capital on Saturday.

He said that the drive to stop the production of polythene shopping bags will escalate and the number of mobile courts working on the issue has been increased. Legal action will be taken if illegal polythene is found.

Since Nov 3, 216 mobile courts have been operating nationwide and 438 organisations have been fined around Tk 2.87 million. At the same time, the mobile courts have seized 59,959 kg of polythene.

There has been widespread environmental pollution in Bangladesh due to polythene. The plastics obstruct the flow of rivers and canals and destroy the fertility of the soil.

Advising people to take their own bags when going to the market, Tapan Kumar said that fish and meat can be bought in wax paper bags alongside the use of jute and cloth bags.

Officials from the Ministry of Environment, Department of Environment, members of law enforcement agencies and representatives of the concerned market committees participated in the monitoring drive.