/Ml is set to ban the production and marketing of environmentally hazardous black polythene bags and import of its raw materials in the country for the greater interest of conserving the nature.

Environment Secretary Syed Marghub Murshed told BSS yesterday that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had already ap proved the ban on the production and marketing of black poly bags and import of its raw materials in the country as a first step towards complete phasing out of all kinds of polythene products.

Marghub said that the government has also approved the recommendations of the Steering Committee on Polythene to phase out the production, marketing and utilisation of poly products and raw materials in the country.

The high-powered Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee on Polythene headed by Environment Minister Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury in its meeting on April 13. 1999 described polythene as a hazard to health and environment and decided to phase it out. Marghub said the prime minister last week approved it and as a first step took the decision to Instruct all concerned agencies for enforcing the ban on the production and marketing of black polythene bags and its Import in the country.

Quoting a study, the environment secretary said that every day about six million poly bags are used in the capital city alone and out of it only 20 per cent can be removed while the other 80 per cent remains back polluting the environment.

Experts said polybags are not environment-friendly, not biodegradable and rather causes soil degradation, water logging, drain congestion and loss ofsoll fertility.

They also observed that black polythene bags are the most hazardous ones.

Chairman of Forum of Environmental Journalists of Bangladesh Quamrul Islam Chowdhury underscored the need for complete ban on polythene bags in the country and promotion of environmentfriendly Jute products and paper bags.

He said promotion of cheaper Jute bags will also create millions of Jobs across the country which would help propel the national economy forward.

Environment and Devt op-ment Alliance Director Syed Shah Tarequzzaman welcomed the decision to phase out polybags and underscored the need for Its immediate enforcement to conserve nature and reduce health risk.