Department of Environment director violently attacked during anti-polythene raid in old Dhaka

A director of the Department of Environment (DoE) was brutally attacked on his way back after a raid on a banned polythene factory in Old Dhaka’s Chawkbazar area on Sunday.

Md. Sawqat Ali, Director, Monitoring & Enforcement, suffered injuries to various parts of his head and face.

Locals rescued him and took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. After necessary treatment and medical tests at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, he returned home.

However, he has been under 72-hour observation as his injuries are serious, Tapan Kumar Biswas, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, told the FE.

Environment ministry Deputy Secretary Rubina Ferdoushy led the drive.

She told the FE that a case has been filed and police are taking strict action in this regard.

The drive was conducted in an illegal polythene factory named Mayer Doa (mother's blessing) in Old Dhaka.

"We sealed off the factory, disconnected electricity and seized the goods and materials."

But over a hundred workers gathered suddenly around the congested roadway to the factory and created an obstacle to take away the seized goods to a truck brought by the ministry there and snatched away the seized things, she added.

At one stage, they snatched away Sawqat Ali as he was in the front and beat him mercilessly. The attackers vandalized the seized machines and trucks loaded with goods and took everything away.

“The owner of the factory definitely patronized the attack," she alleged, saying that “they will continue the drive and update their strategy to ensure the safety of the government employee.”

“It seemed to be a preplanned attack on an on-duty government official. This is an unlawful act and we must deal with it legally,” Mr Tapan Kumar Biswas said.    

Reiterating the government's commitment to continue the legal drives against illegal polythene, he said this decision was taken for the sake of the people and to protect the environment.  

Despite resistance from vested interests, the crackdown on illegal polythene bags will continue, said environment adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan in a statement.

She stated that a case has been filed at Chawkbazar Police Station against those who obstructed government officials in carrying out their duties and attacked them.

Approximately 12.5 million polythene bags are discarded daily, contributing to severe pollution in the country.

During the anti-polythene drives under nine mobile courts— 21 cases were filed, Tk 105,500 fined and confiscated approximately 2,387 kilograms of banned polythene.

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