State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam today stressed the need for raising public awareness and enforcing laws strictly to stop the use of banned polythene. Polythene poses serious threats to soil, water, air, and biodiversity. Citizens, traders, and buyers must adopt eco-friendly alternatives such as jute and cloth bags instead of polythene use, he said. The state minister said this while visiting Mohammadpur Krishi Market in the capital as part of an anti-polythene awareness campaign. He also warned traders against storing, selling, or supplying banned polythene and assured that regular market inspections and awareness drives will continue. "In the past six months, 168 mobile courts filed 206 cases, imposed fines exceeding Taka 19 lakh, and seized over 50,000 metric tons of polythene," he said, highlighting the government's eco-friendly moves. During the inspection, eco-friendly shopping bags were distributed among buyers and sellers. Senior officials from the ministry and the Department of Environment were present, among others.
Polythene use has been a growing environmental concern due to its non-biodegradable nature, which leads to severe pollution of soil, water, and air. It also poses a significant threat to biodiversity. Shaikh Faridul Islam's visit to Mohammadpur Krishi Market aimed to reinforce the government's commitment to phasing out polythene and promoting sustainable alternatives.
