Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md. Shahab Uddin has said that jute made polythene bags are coming to country’s market in June next year. The minister said this while participating the 54th virtual meeting of Bangladesh climate change affairs trustee board on Wednesday. He said, the government is trying to bring the jute made polythene bags in the market as an alternative of polythene that pollutes the environment. But it is not possible yet to produce the biodegradable polythene for marketing. The positive thing is that the inventor has opined that the process would be completed within June 2022. Shahab Uddin said, to face the risk of climate change 789 projects have been undertaken with a cost of 3 thousand 362 crore 32 lakh taka with financial assistance from Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund. Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzak, LGRD Minister Tazul Islam, Foreign Minister A K Abdul Momen, Food Minister Shadhan Chandra Majumder, State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury were also present in the meeting. AH   

The High Court on Monday directed the government to take necessary steps to stop the use of polythene bags and one-time plastic products across the country, including the coastal region, within a year. The HC bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Khandaker Diliruzzaman passed the order with a rule. Deputy Attorney General Saifuddin Khaled represented the state while Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA) Executive Director Syeda Rizwana Hasan and advocate Syed Ahmed Kabir stood for the petitioners. The HC ordered the authorities concerned to monitor markets, seal off polythene-making factories and seize machinery used for its production. The top court asked the respondents to submit a progress report in this regard with affidavit within January 5, 2021.  The HC set January 10 for the next hearing. It issued a rule seeking explanation as to why inaction of the respondents in banning polythene and plastic products will not be beyond legal jurisdiction.  It also wanted to know why the authorities will not take a work plan to find a safe alternative to polythene and one-time plastic products by December 31, 2022. The Forest and Environment Secretary, Industries Secretary, Commerce Secretary, and Textile and Jute Secretary were made respondents to the rule. On December 17, 2019, 11 organizations, including BELA, filed a writ petition seeking to know the legality of using, production, and sale of plastic and polythene products. Source: UNB AH