The Environment Advisor (Minister in Charge) of Bangladesh warns strongly against the use of polythene in her country
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, advisor to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change MOEFCC), Bangladesh, has threatened to take strong action against polythene.
The advisor issued a warning during a meeting on anti-polythene and environmental conservation in Chattogram on January 30.
Speaking as the chief guest, Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan said, “We regularly go to the raw market. We are carrying three bags in our hands. One paper bag, one cloth bag, and one burlap bag.
By showing these, we are telling everyone that you should only use these bags. Showing this is our end. This time we have to take a tough road.”
“Maybe many will criticize me because I said I would stop polythene, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t, the question is what are you doing. Polythene is getting into your baby’s breast milk, and polythene is getting into your child’s brain.”
Cite examples of countries where polythene is banned, she said, “There is a country called Rwanda, where there was a civil war once. The rulers there say that polythene has done more harm than the civil war. You can’t enter that country with plastic.”
“You will be stopped at the plane door. I went to Tanzania; they will first search your bag to see if there is polythene. Then they will give you permission to enter,” She added.
“Tanzania did not take up a project worth eight thousand crores because their country was experiencing waterlogging. They have put an end to the use of polythene.”
“We took on an eight thousand crore project to address waterlogging, but we have also made polythene cheaper,” she stated.
The advisor expressed frustration at questions like, “What is the alternative to polythene?” and noted that polythene was removed from the market between 2004 and 2006 through ongoing campaigns.
At that time, no one talked about alternatives to polythene. Why is this being said now? ‘The fumes of these alternatives are actually being raised for the benefit of polythene and plastic traders.’
She also said, ‘We are poisoning our children in various ways. Our air is contaminated with toxic plastic pollutants. That poison is entering our bodies through breathing.’
Warning against the manufacturers, she said, ‘Workers are getting cancer in their bodies by working in plastic factories. The owners have no concern for the workers about that.
“However, when it is talked about closing the factories of these banned products, the workers are brought forward. They say, the workers will become unemployed, compensation will have to be paid. Why should compensation be paid for the closure of the factories of banned products?”
If factory owners can compensate for garment factory closures, why should the state compensate for the closure of factories producing banned products? The owners themselves should pay compensation to the workers.’
The meeting was presided over by Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain, Mayor, Chattogram City Corporation. After the meeting, Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hassan participated in an anti-polythene campaign at Kazir Deuri Bazar in the city.
