Environment and Forest Minister Shajahan Siraj yesterday said the government will now ban use and marketing of polyethylene shopping bags thick up to 20 microns all over the country front March 1.

’ The government will not only ban use and marketing of polybags from Dhaka city, but also across the country from March I and then will make a law in the next session of the parliament to slop its production," he told a

Jointly organised by Department of Environment, Ministry of Environment and forest and SMEC (Bangladesh) Limited, the workshop on draft final report of a study on "Control and Management of Polyethylene Bags in Bangladesh" was held at the I GED Bhaban.

Chaired by Environment and forest Secretary Sabihuddin Ahmed. the workshop was addicssed, among others, by State Minister for Environment and forest Jafrul Islam Chowdhury, former advisor to the caretaker government Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury. Director General of the Department of Environment Mohammad Hcdayctul Islam Chowdhury and Dr Rafiqul Islam.

Siraj said the government would not bow down to any pressure to withdraw its decision on banning use and marketing of polybags. He also pointed out that crores of polybags are being thrown out in Dhaka metropolis pushing city life under serious threat.

The drainage system of the city is about to be collapsed as about 5 to 6 feet layers of polybags have developed at the bottom of the river Buriganga, he said.

The Environment and Forest Minister sought cooperation of all concerned to stop use and marketing of polybags from today mentioning that the polybags caused a serious environmental degradation.