Polythene bags being sold freely in Sylhet

Polythene shopping bags are being sold freely in the markets of the district, violating the ban imposed on its production, marketing and use.
According to sources, a section of dishonest polythene makers in connivance with some unscrupulous traders are supplying the polythene bags to the markets in the excuse that coloured polythene bags are prohibited, and there is no ban on white and opaque ones.

Some consumers told that no jute bags are available in the market at cheap rate. Each polythene shopping bag is being sold at Tk 0.25 to Tk 1.00 and apart from this, net bags made of nylon and modified sacks made of cement bags are also being sold in the markets.

Some vendors of different commodities like fish, meat, vegetables etc. said that they have to sell their items inside polythene bags as most consumers come to the market without their respective shopping bags.

It may be cited here that a huge quantity of used polythene is sent to Dhaka for recycling and making new bags.
Though, law does not permit use polythene bags, the concerned authorities have not taken any step to stop sale of such bags in the markets.
Besides, the concerned authorities themselves are using the polythene bags showing utter negligence to the law.

Md. Shohidul Islam, deputy commissioner (DC) of Sylhet said, the district administration very often conducts mobile court to stop marketing and selling of polythene bags, but these are not sufficient to control the situation.