The government is going to enforce a complete ban on single-use plastics inside the Bangladesh Secretariat from today to set an example in protecting the environment and public health.
A press release issued by the environment, forest and climate change ministry on Saturday also read that all entry points of the secretariat would be checked from today to prevent entry of single-use-plastic bags and other objects into the country鈥檚 administrative hub.聽聽
Paper bags will be provided to anyone to be found carrying articles in polythene bags, according to the release.
The interim government put a ban on the use of polythene and polypropylene shopping bags at all superstores across the country from October 1, 2024 and from November 1 same year, a nationwide drive was launched to strictly enforce the ban on production, storage, transportation, marketing and use of polythene and polypropylene shopping bags.
Defying the ban and drives, the use of single-use plastic, polythene and polypropylene shopping bags, however, continues unabated.
In September this year, the government took several decisions to make the secretariat free from single-use plastics starting from October under a pilot initiative.
If successfully implemented, the pilot would be scaled across the country, environment ministry officials said.
The Saturday press release said that the government had taken this strict measure against harmful plastic products to set an example.
From today, all ministries and departments are requested to fully cooperate in making the secretariat free of single-use plastics, the release continued.
Boards have already been installed at the entrances and other locations inside the secretariat displaying messages and slogans against the ban and harms of single-use plastics, while a monitoring team has also been deployed to oversee the pilot鈥檚 implementation, according to the release.
To enforce this decision, the Cabinet Division has recently instructed all ministries to ensure that single-use plastic is no longer allowed within the secretariat.
Instead, reusable materials must be promoted, its instruction said.
Plastic bottles, cups, plates, and spoons can no longer be used in meetings and seminars.
The use of jute, cloth or other reusable bags has been encouraged, while alternative items must be included in government procurement.
Officials and employees have also been instructed to stop using single-use-plastics in their daily work.
Paper or eco-friendly food packages will be used in meetings and seminars while alternative items will be supplied for office use.
Each ministry would appoint a focal person and form a monitoring committee to ensure proper implementation, the release adds.
The government鈥檚 first initiative in this regard came in August last year just after the interim government鈥檚 takeover when single-use plastic bottles were banned on the Chief Adviser鈥檚 Office premises.
In October 2024, the environment ministry formed a committee to monitor the ban on polythene shopping bags.
Under the nationwide drive, 3,797 cases were filed and around Tk 2.64 crore was realised in fines between January 2 and September 11 this year for air, noise and polythene pollution across the country.