Supermarket customers have expressed support for the recent ban on polythene bags, but raised concerns about the higher cost of alternative shopping bags, which they say has increased their expenses.

They said the supermarkets should offer cheaper eco-friendly shopping bags or freebie shopping bags for small items.

Supermarket staff also said most of their clients appreciate the move to put an end to the use of polythene bags, but a small number of them show a negative attitude to paying for shopping bags.

The no-more-polythene-bag policy is being enforced in super shops from October 1 as part of the government move to stop the use of polythene bags in the country in phases.

Visiting Swapno outlet in Shewrapara on Wednesday, it was seen they were offering customers different types of eco-friendly shopping bags at various prices.

Shahina Sultana, a customer of the outlet on Wednesday said, "We are appreciating the move to ban polythene bags in supermarkets but the prices of non-polythene bags are high to some extent, which will raise our costs."

The supermarkets should also offer freebie shopping bags for small items or cheaper shopping bags, otherwise they would go to grocery shops, said Shahina, who is an employee of non-government organisation RTM International.

Another client of the outlet, Pijush Chandra Shil, who is also a private university student, said banning the polythene bags is a right decision. "We're welcoming it for the sake of protecting the environment," he said.

Manager of the Swapno outlet Shawon Islam said they are offering the shopping bags at various prices from Tk 6 to Tk 16. Though most of the customers purchase the eco-friendly bags with smiling faces, some others show that they are not willing to pay money for shopping bags.

"But we're facing no major problem after implementation of the no-polythene bag policy in their outlet. Now we need to convince a small portion of clients to pay for shopping bags," he said.

Shawon however said they offer freebie paper bags for some items including rice, fish and pulse.

Shadat Rasel, a customer of Agora outlet in Shewrapara, said the polythene bags should have been banned 20-25 years ago as it harms the environment.

"It's a good initiative. We're ready to pay for shopping bags. We need to clean non-disposable polythene and plastics to protect the environment. Besides, these items are not hygienic," said Rasel, a private service-holder.

Manager of Agora outlet Delwar Hossain Jibon said it will take time for the customers to become accustomed to paying for shopping bags. "When the ban on the use of polythene bags is enforced everywhere, a positive mindset would be developed among the people to pay for eco-friendly shopping bags," he said.

On September 9, Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the use of polythene and polypropylene shopping bags would be banned across all superstores in Bangladesh starting October 1.

With a view to stop the use of polythene bags completely in the country, the Environment Adviser on Tuesday last said the government will strictly enforce the ban on production, storage, transportation, marketing and use of polythene.

A nationwide anti-polythene drive will start in all kitchen markets on November 1 next, she said.