The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

Banned polythene shopping bags have come back to Dhaka city markets as a section of unscrupulous manufacturers have been producing and marketing the products.

The magistrates, who are assigned to launch drive against the illegal manufacturers, marketers and users of polythene bags, cannot take effective steps due to lack of enforcement of legal power, said a magistrate who is conducting such drive.

He added that it is very essential to amend the existing law giving more power to the magistrates so that they can take action against those who manufacture and market polythene bags. However, the Bangladesh Environment Protection Act 1995 had given power only to the Poribesh Adalat (Environment Court), which can take action against the manufacturers and users of illegal shopping bags and fine up to Tk 10 lakh and award imprisonment of 10 years or both, said an environmentalist

The environment court also can seal off the factory and remove materials, but there is no power for magistrate in the act to take action or conduct drive against them, he added.

In 2000, the government in an amendment to the Environment Protection Act 1995, gave power to the special magistrates to fine with the highest Tk 10,000 and award imprisonment of six years to the manufacturers and users of the produces, but they have no power to seize or seal off the factory.

The government, however, has recently allowed 50-micron and 55-micron polypropylene bag for packaging of the consumer goods.

The Government conditionally allowed the BCIC to use 50-micron polypropylene bags or to package of fertiliser and 55-micron bags for the Forest Department and the Commerce Ministry for using in tea plant, said an official of the Environment and Forest Ministry. According to the rules, the 50-micron and 55-micron specifications and usages have to inscribe on the bags in both Bengali and English. Manufacturers will have to take permission from the Department of Environment (DoE), he added.

The recent permission of 50-micron and 55-micron polythene bags may broaden the scope of producing more poly bags illegally, feared environmentalists who also demanded proper monitoring of it

Meanwhile, the government imposed a ban on manufacturing, marketing and use of polythene bags in Dhaka city on January 1, 2002, followed by a nationwide ban on April 8 in the same year.

More than 400 factories are now manufacturing polythene bags in Dhaka and about 300 of them located in the old part of Dhaka city.

The main wholesale markets of polythene bags include Chawkbazar, Begumbazar and Moulavibazar, which cater to the retail markets in the city and other districts.