CHITTAGONG. Dec 11 : Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC) has suggested replacing Jute bags with polythene laminated hessian bags for packing su^r and other food items, a Jute Ministry source here said, reports UNB

It will Involve an additional expenditure of Taka 4.50 crore for about 42 lakh bags this season to pack 2 8 lakh tons of sugar, the set production target of the season, the source said

The begs, each coating Taka 31.21 can contain of 50 kg suer but the Jute bags used by She at present can hold 100 kg and coats Taka 21 24 each.

BSFIC has already sent a proposal for 15 lakh polythene laminated bags to the Jute Minister the source said

BSFIC officials said ths de cteton to uee polythene Jami nated bags was taken In order ts protect su^r from melting

In the humid air

But experts disputed this contention saying sugar melts tn the godowns for lack of care and left uncovered for long.

Besides they say polythene ba^ are very harmful and tnlu rtous to health when used for packing foodgrains due to chemical reactions

Private jute mill ownen said the BSFIC s decision to buy hessian bags would cause a set back to the country's >Jte industry

They said in the backdrop of government policy to dis courage production of poly thene as a treasure to protect environment pollution this decision of a public oorpofa-tion wouW definitely appear 'contradictory" and couator-

Oovernmsat has already banned Ito we of po^thene aa packing material to protect the country a jute induetry