Despite the ban, polythene is still widespread in the market

Even after the ban on polythene bags in the market, the use has not decreased, nor has the sale stopped. Public awareness programs and campaigns are ongoing, but there is no benefit. On the contrary, the activities of the law enforcement agencies and the Department of Environment are being hampered in the face of obstacles. Tons and tons of waste are being produced daily. In addition to increasing health risks due to environmental pollution, government initiatives are facing challenges.

Considering the damage to the environment and public health, the then coalition government banned the production, use, marketing and commercialization of polythene bags by law in 2002. At that time, Bangladesh was the first country in the world to take such a step. The ban by law also worked. Until 2006, the use of polythene bags was not seen in that way. After that, polythene gradually gained a large place in the market due to lack of surveillance. And in the last 15 years, the use of this environmentally destructive banned polythene has increased at a rocket speed everywhere without any obstacles.

According to the Environment and Social Development Organization (ESDO), 45 million pieces of polythene waste are generated daily in Dhaka city alone. In addition, there is polythene used for packaging. According to the organization's research report, those involved in the production of plastic products have the greatest negative health effects from this toxic chemical.

ESDO Senior Technical Advisor Dr. Shahriar Hossain believes that what is already banned has spread due to lack of enforcement of the law, and currently creating obstacles to the implementation of the law is tantamount to politically failing the government. There will be challenges at the field level, some opportunists will want to do it, but even then the law will have to be implemented considering the harm.

Meanwhile, the interim government has been very vocal about banning polythene bags in the market since taking power to protect the nation from terrible harm. Especially Syeda Rizwana Hasan, an environmental advisor with long experience in environmental work. Although polythene bags were supposed to be banned in supermarkets in October and in markets from November, it was not possible in reality.

Officials have faced obstacles in some places while conducting the anti-polythene campaign. Among them, on November 13 last year, while conducting a joint campaign in Old Dhaka, the campaign had to be suspended due to obstacles. The factory workers and owners are reluctant to close the factory without providing alternative employment.

The Department of Environment conducted awareness activities in Hatirpul and Palashi raw markets in the capital on Saturday. During the campaign led by the organization's additional secretary Tapan Kumar Biswas, he said, "The anti-polythene campaign is being conducted in two parts. Among them, awareness-based and action-based mobile courts. We have been able to make the people very aware. Changes will be seen soon."

Meanwhile, another law was enacted in 2010 to mandate the use of jute packaging. Although the use of polythene could not be stopped due to lack of law enforcement and the crisis of alternative systems. Although a large portion of buyers in the market saw the government's steps as positive, they mentioned that there was no readily available alternative. Sellers also reported a shortage of alternatives.

When a housewife named Nazmunnahar was returning home from Hatirpul Raw Market with vegetables wrapped in polythene, she was asked about the polythene ban. She said, "How can we buy meat and fish without polythene? If the polythene company were closed, we wouldn't have gotten it." Another customer named Sumi, who was with her, said that there would be no benefit in raising awareness at the raw market instead of stopping production and wholesale markets.

Businessman Abdul Mannan said that if we stop importing raw materials for making polythene, as well as stopping production and sales in the wholesale market, polythene will disappear from the entire country within a day. Otherwise, such awareness campaigns will not work.

According to the ESDO research report, plastic particles spread in almost all directions, food, water and air, creating health risks for the human body. When considered at a long-term level, the cost of treatment or medicines does not decrease either. Exposure to chemicals released from plastic in high doses causes various diseases including asthma, heart disease, stomach, lung or vision problems, skin diseases. About 5 billion taka is spent on medicines and treatment in Dhaka every month due to the effects of toxic chemicals.