Super shops can't use polythene bags from 1 October: Rizwana

Super shops can't use polythene and polypropylene bags from 1 October, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said today (9 September).

The stores will also be prohibited to provide such bags to customers as well, the adviser announced at the meeting with the stakeholders at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

Alternative jute and cloth bags will be placed at or in front of all super shops for customers while the youths and students will be involved in this initiative, she said.

She said the advertisement for banning shopping bags will be widely circulated in print and electronic media starting 15 September.

Public notice will be published in newspapers as well, she added.

Rizwana said the Ministry of Textiles and Jute will hold meetings with all the super shops within a week and take necessary measures to ensure the supply of shopping bags made of jute.

The Department of Environment (DoE) in association with ESDO will organise a fair for manufacturers of alternative eco-friendly materials/jute/textile bags by 30 September, she said.

At the fair, the adviser said super shop authorities and producers can discuss their demand and supply.

The environment, forest and climate change secretary, additional secretaries of the ministry, DoE director general, senior officials of other ministries and representatives of various super shops were present at the meeting.