Rizwana: Polythene ban must be enforced for children's better future

Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan on Sunday said enforcement of the restriction on polythene is a must to ensure a healthy future for children.

The government will take harsher measures to enforce the ban on the use of polythene shopping bags, Rizwana said while speaking as the chief guest at a stakeholder consultation on combating polythene use and conserving the environment at Theater Institute.

“If polythene use cannot be prevented, it will cause unimaginable harm to the current and future generations. Polythene, which is responsible for cancer and severe environmental damage, must be eliminated,” she said.

She pointed out that alternatives to polythene are already available.

"For instance, 90% of polythene use has been eliminated in Dhaka's super shopping malls, where cloth, paper, and jute bags are being used," the adviser said.

She highlighted the role of youth in this initiative and noted that committees have been formed to monitor markets.

Mentioning that polythene use will gradually be prevented across the country, Rizwana called for collective efforts to stop hill cutting and noise pollution.

She said: "The harmful impacts of polythene threaten our environment, biodiversity, and public health. Addressing this issue requires a collaborative effort from the government, businesses, consumers, and local communities."

The environment adviser warned that failure to take immediate action against polythene use would leave future generations to live in a devastated environment.

Chaired by Chittagong City Mayor Dr Shahadat Hossain, the consultation was addressed, among others, by Chittagong Divisional Commissioner Dr Md Ziauddin, Chittagong Range DIG Ahsan Habib Palash, Chittagong Metropolitan Additional Police Commissioner Md Humayun Kabir, and Chittagong City Corporation CEO Sheikh Md Touhidul Islam.

Deputy Secretary (Pollution Control) of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Siddhartha Shankar Kundu presented a keynote paper, highlighting the adverse effects of polythene.

Later, Adviser Rizwana Hasan visited the Kazir Dewri vegetable market in Chittagong.

She interacted with shopkeepers and commoners, urging all to work together to raise awareness and prevent the use of banned polythene.

Source: UNB