TDS Desk:

The government will begin strict monitoring against the use of polythene shopping bags from November 1 and would take actions against polythene shopping bag manufacturers.

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan came with the warning at a meeting held at the Ministry of Textiles and Jute at the Secretariat in Dhaka on Sunday.

She said legal actions would also be taken against supermarkets for providing polythene bags to their customers. The adviser said that the public awareness is crucial because if people stop using plastic bags, its production will decline.

Initiatives would be taken to aware people about the harmful impacts of plastic bags so that they could avoid the use of polythene.

Meanwhile, the meeting has discussed the implementation of the 2010 Mandatory Jute Packaging Act and taking steps to encourage the public for using jute bags as an alternative to plastic bags.

Textiles and Jute Adviser Brigadier General (Retd) Dr M Sakhawat Hossain also attended the meeting. He assured that necessary steps would be taken to ensure adequate supply of jute bags, and raw jute exports would be halted if needed.

Textiles and Jute Secretary Md Abdur Rauf, Director General of the Department of Jute Zinat Ara and representatives from business associations were present.