The Department of Environment-led joint drives against manufacturing illegal polythene bags were postponed halfway on Wednesday amid protests by polythene factory workers at Kamalbagh of Chawk Bazar in Old Dhaka.
Since November 1, the DoE has been overseeing anti-polythene drives with support from the Bangladesh Army, the police and other law enforcement agencies, following instructions from Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the adviser for the environment, forest, and climate change, and water resources ministries.
According to the DoE, the joint force raided Kamalbagh-based polythene factories at about 11:00am on Wednesday.
About 2,500 kilogrammes of illegal poly bags were seized and at least three factories were sealed after being snapped from electricity supply.
Several hundred protesters, mostly workers of the factories, however, protested against the drives, demanding a halt to the joint force drives.
They also demanded creation of alternative job opportunities for them.聽聽
Army personnel, however, tried to calm down the protesters.
At one stage, the joint force ceased to proceed with the drives.
DoE鈥檚 executive magistrate Kazi Tamjid Ahmed told 抖阴精品 that they stopped their day-long drives at noon.
鈥楢rmy personnel were providing us with security. We ended the drive following suggestions from the army personnel,鈥� Tamjid said.
He added that the DoE would continue its drives in the coming days.