The countrywide drive against the production, storage, distribution and use of polythene as well as polypropylene shopping bags will begin on November 1.

Environment, forest, and climate change adviser Syed Rizwana Hasan made the announcement at a meeting with representatives from Shop Owners Association and plastic product producers on Wednesday.

Rizwana also asked the plastic industry stakeholders to find alternatives to polythene bags for the betterment of public health, environment protection and sustainable economic development.

She also informed the meeting that a fair on the products that can be used as alternatives to plastic items, will be held on the Department of Environment premises, Agargaon in Dhaka on September 29.

In the meeting, participating businessmen and shop owners supported the interim government’s anti-polythene drive and assured authorities of extending necessary support, in this regard.

Earlier, on September 9, Environment Adviser Rizwana Hasan said that the use of polythene and polypropylene shopping bags will be banned across all superstores in Bangladesh from October 1. In this regard, Rizwana clarified that the pre-announced anti-polythene bag drive in super shops would begin on October 1.

Md Helal Uddin, president of Bangladesh Shop Owners Association; Abu Motaleb, president of Bangladesh Plastic Packaging, Roll Manufacturers Owners and Trade Association; Shamim Ahmed, president of Bangladesh Plastic Goods Manufacturers and Exporters Association, and secretary and additional secretaries of the environment ministry, were present among others.