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Ban on use of one-time or single-use plastic (SUP) items at the Bangladesh Secretariat in the capital is coming into effect from today (Sunday).
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has informed the development in a circular, and requested all to cooperate in ensuring a SUP-free Secretariat.
It has said all the entry points at the Secretariat would be screened from Sunday, so that none could bring polythene or SUP products.
Paper-made bags would be supplied to those who would be found carrying polythene or one-time use plastic goods while entering Bangladesh Secretariat. A monitoring team would oversee implementation of the government decision.
A high official at the ministry said the Cabinet Division has urged all the ministries to enforce the decision. It has also said one-time bottle, cup, plate and spoon must not be used in meetings or seminars of the ministries. Food supplied to these events must be packed by paper-made boxes or other environment-friendly packets.
An order has been issued regarding the government purchase policy to procure alternative goods instead of plastic.
The government officials and employees have strictly been asked to stop using SUPs.
A directive has been given to all the ministries to appoint an official at each ministry as 'focal person' and also form a monitoring committee, he added.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com