Polythene bags still on use in Dinajpur

Women collect waste polythene near a warehouse for use at a recycle plant in Dinajpur. PHOTO: STAR

Several unscientific waste polythene plants have also been set up at various places here, according to district administration officials.

Polythene bags were banned officially across the country in 2001.

But following a visit to different markets here this correspondent found that the bags had flooded the areas. Vendors and shop-owners are using poly bags indiscriminately in the markets.

Besides, waste collectors collect huge quantity of waste polythene from different upazila of the district every day. After collection, they wash and export the polythene bags to different factories.

A shopkeeper of Bahadur Bazaar here seeking anonymity said, 'I sell plastic bags for the last 11 years. Thin plastic bags with dimensions less than 20 microns are in good demand because of low price'.

On contact, Prof Md Abdul Jalil of Dinajpur Government University College said the government deserves praise for imposing ban on polythene, but the ban is being ignored by people mainly due to lack of awareness. Campaigns should be launched without further delay to create awareness among people about the bad effects of polythene, he said. Moreover, punitive action should be taken against its producers at once, he said.

When contacted, Dinajpur Pourasabha chairman Md Shafiqul Haque Chhutu said we are duty-bound to keep the town clean. It is the duty of the law enforcement authorities to enforce the official order of ban on polythene, he said.