It is almost unimaginable for people to go about their daily lives without plastic products nowadays. Almost all types of products come in plastic packaging or bottles. From pens used in education and office work to luxury cosmetics, plastic is everywhere. Today, plastic is found in soil, water, air, and even in the human body through the food chain. Despite this, the use of plastic continues to grow day by day. While some used plastic is recycled, the majority ends up as waste, scattered everywhere. Among these plastics, the most well-known and widely used product is polythene. Polythene is a polymer of the chemical compound ethylene, produced through various chemical reactions. It is a type of flexible yet durable plastic. Polythene is resistant to acids, alkalis, and other solvents, so it does not easily degrade. Therefore, it can be said that polythene is not biodegradable.

Polythene is a plastic product that is not only harmful to health but also one of the primary causes of environmental pollution. After using polythene, we discard it irresponsibly. Since it is non-biodegradable, it remains intact in nature for a long time. As a result, it acts as a barrier to the penetration of sunlight, water, and other elements into the soil. Additionally, being non-biodegradable and non-compostable, meaning it cannot be directly turned into humus or organic fertilizer, polythene reduces soil fertility and hinders the growth of beneficial bacteria. It also contributes to waterlogging and the spread of various waterborne diseases. According to a World Bank survey, about 73,000 tons of plastic and polythene are carried by the country's three major rivers - Padma, Meghna, and Jamuna - daily. Polythene also contributes significantly to rising temperatures. The heat generated during the production and recycling of polythene increases the temperature of the surrounding environment.

Compared to Europe, Asian countries use more polythene and lag behind in plastic waste management. Bangladesh became the first country in the world to ban polythene bags in 2002, but the implementation has been ineffective. Polythene is needed for daily shopping. Due to weak enforcement of the law, around 80% of the population uses polythene or plastic items daily. Almost every shop openly displays stacks of polythene bags right in front of law enforcement officers. Even law enforcement themselves often carry polythene bags, despite a legal ban on its use. After the spread of COVID-19 in 2020, plastic waste increased by approximately 14,500 tons between 2020 and 2021, most of which came from the medical and healthcare sectors. Most of these factories are illegal and based in Old Dhaka. According to the World Bank, the per capita plastic consumption in Dhaka is more than three times the national average for urban areas, currently standing at 22.25 kilograms. In Dhaka alone, around 646 tons of plastic waste are collected daily, which accounts for 10% of the total waste produced in the country. The illegal use of polythene is causing a serious environmental disaster in the capital Dhaka and across the country.

There are several reasons why we have failed to stop or control the use of polythene. Polythene offers certain so-called advantages, such as its widespread availability. It is easily accessible and cheap, which is why shopkeepers use it in large quantities for their cost savings. Polythene can be given to customers for free, so it is widely used in almost every store. Its production is simple, making it highly demanded. People prefer it because it is easy to carry and store for extended periods. We have yet to offer a convenient and affordable alternative to polythene. We should remember that polythene has been used as a substitute for glass for many years.

Syeda Rizwana Hasan, advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Water Resources in the interim government, has called on the world to work together to prevent plastic pollution. Starting October 1st, no form of polythene or polypropylene bags will be allowed in supermarkets, and stores must provide jute or cloth bags as alternatives for customers. Furthermore, single-use plastics will be banned in the area around Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport from October 1st, 2024. She also announced that by September 30th, the Department of Environment, in collaboration with ESDO, will organize a fair featuring manufacturers of alternative eco-friendly jute and cloth bags. This initiative is truly commendable.

We must remember that it is not only the increase in plastic product usage but also the lack of proper management that is exacerbating the plastic problem. Therefore, to prevent plastic and polythene pollution, we must first focus on the three Rs - Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. A coordination committee should be formed with representatives from government and private organizations to monitor the overall situation, enforce laws to control and ban plastic and polythene products, and ensure proper implementation. The use of single-use plastics should be stopped, except for medical equipment. Regulations should be formulated to manage plastic product production, usage reduction, and proper waste management. Under the powers granted by Section 6A of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 (as amended by Act No. 9 of 2002), the government has banned the production, import, marketing, sale, display, storage, distribution, transportation, or use of polythene shopping bags or other materials made of polyethylene or polypropylene that are harmful to the environment. The Mandatory Use of Jute in Packaging Act, 2010 (Act No. 53 of 2010) (as amended by Act No. 38 of 2013) mandates that no person shall sell, distribute, or supply any specified product without packaging it in jute. Import duties on plastic raw materials should be increased, and duties on alternative products should be reduced. The use of polypropylene imported through bonded licenses should be strictly controlled. Single-use plastic should be banned in all educational institutions and government offices. Companies producing bottled water or soft drinks in plastic bottles should allocate part of their profits to the health sector under CSR, as plastic bottles are harmful to health. Citizen involvement should be increased to create public awareness about plastic pollution. Tourist police and local authorities should strengthen oversight to prevent plastic pollution in tourist spots. Polythene-free market models should be established in urban areas. Public awareness campaigns should be broadcast on television and displayed on billboards outside supermarkets and large markets, highlighting the harmful effects of polythene and plastic. Coordination should be maintained between the Department of Environment, the Department of Jute, law enforcement agencies, the National Board of Revenue, FBCCI, Dhaka South and North City Corporations. Ultimately, the Ministry of Environment and Forests needs to play an effective role in ensuring the proper implementation of laws against polythene.

Now, the use of paper, jute, fiber, leaves, and cloth bags is the only way to protect the environment from the horrors of polythene. The "Golden Fiber" jute bag is eco-friendly and affordable. Considering the positive aspects, cost-effectiveness, and easy availability of jute and paper bags, it is time to build a polythene-free Bangladesh that protects the environment. If we all work together with the government to control the use of polythene, we can save our beautiful, green Bangladesh from plastic pollution.

Professor Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, Dean, Faculty of Science, Professor, Dept. of Environmental Science, Stamford University Bangladesh, Joint Secretary, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and Chairman, Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS). E-mail: kamrul_sub@hotmail.com; dk@stamforduniversity.edu.bd