RAJSHAHI, Nov 30, 2020 (BSS)- Speakers at an event have unequivocally called for large-scale promotion of jute sacks through forging social resistance against use of plastic bags for protecting the environment from further degradation.
Use of plastic bags by the wholesale traders, vegetable vendors and other shops has been growing despite the ban on the use, production and storing of the environment-harming plastic bags.
The observation came at an advocacy meeting titled “Proper Enforcement of the Mandatory Use of Jute Packaging law 2010” held at the conference hall of Deputy Commissioner Office in Rajshahi on Sunday.
The District Administration and the Department of Jute jointly organised the discussion. Government and non-government officials and owners of the paddy, rice and automatic rice mills and businessmen attended the programmes.
Deputy Commissioner Abdul Jalil addressed the meeting as chief guest, while Additional Deputy Commissioner Shariful Haque was in the chair.
Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture Extension Saiful Islam, Deputy Director (Jute Seed) of Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation Fazley Rob and Assistant Director of the Department of Jute Saifur Rahman addressed the meeting as resource persons disseminating their expertise on the issue.
Chief Inspector of Jute Nadim Akter and Jute Development Officer Azit Kumar Roy and Member of Rajshahi Chamber of Commerce and Industries Syed Ahmed Jahir also spoke.
Deputy Commissioner Abdul Jalil said the used polythene bags eventually find their ways into drains, canals, rivers, parks and streets harming the environment.
He said mobile courts will be conducted against the use of plastic bags to enforce the Mandatory Jute Packaging law 2010.
He also urged the participating businessmen to supplement the government agencies in this regard.
The meeting was told that paddy, rice, wheat, maze, fertilizer and sugar must be packaged in jute bags as per the law. If anyone can violate the act for using non-degradable synthetics to package commodities, he or she must be faced a maximum one year jail or fine Taka 50,000 or both.