The government on Friday announced mobile court drives against polythene bag manufacturers and marketers to stop the use of the harmful bags implementing the Polythene Bag Control Act 2002.
Tapan Kumar Biswas, the head of the monitoring team formed by the environment ministry, and other officials visited kitchen markets on the day for monitoring the situation.
Tapan, an additional secretary, said that instructions were issued to all deputy commissioners and Department of Environment field officers to ensure compliance with the drives from November 3.
Although mobile courts will not operate on November 1 and 2 due to the weekend, monitoring will continue, he said, urging public cooperation in eliminating polythene bag use.
On September 19, environment adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan announced the drives against polythene bags at supermarkets from October 1 and from November 1 at all types of markets.
As per the announcement, the monitoring team visited the markets but they could not fine anyone or seize any polythene on the first day of the drive.
Officials said that though it was the first day of the drives, due to weekly holiday they couldn鈥檛 take proper preparations for any mobile court that could fine the violators.
They said that from Sunday they were expecting strict actions against polythene production, transport, storing or use.
Earlier, the DoE and the ministry enforced strong monitoring on polythene bags at superstores since October 1.
Consumers said that superstores were not giving polythene with goods anymore since the deadline.
On Friday, the monitoring committee urged shoppers to use jute and cloth bags instead of polythene.
Vendors were also instructed to cease using polythene bags, with a warning that strict actions would be taken if polythene bags are found during future inspections.
Joint secretary Mohammad Rezaul Karim, deputy secretary Rubina Ferdousi, and DoE directors Rajinara Begum and Mohammad Masud Hasan Patwari and other officials were also present as part of the monitoring committee on Friday.
The environment adviser announced that the government would reward markets in the capital that would be free from polypropylene shopping bags by December 31.
In 2002, the government banned use of polythene but the law was hardly implemented.
The production, transport, marketing, and storage of polythene bags are strictly prohibited by law, but the law is being grossly violated across the country.
The adviser stressed the importance of using environment-friendly alternatives such as jute bags.
Rizwana urged businesses to help implement the ban.