Bangladesh is banning polythene and polypropylene bags across all major stores starting Oct 1 but the major green move is fueling mixed reactions.

The initiative encourages using greener jute and cloth bags to promote sustainable practices, with public awareness efforts and alternative bag supplies viewed as key to the transition.

Plastic bags have displaced their paper counterparts as the main choice for carrying shopping items but over the last decade a global backlash against thin, disposable plastic bags has gained momentum.

In 2002, Bangladesh pioneered banning "thinner plastic bags" after they were found to have choked the drainage system during devastating floods. Other countries including South Africa, Rwanda, Australia and Italy followed suit.

The latest ban on bags manufactured from a thicker layer of polythene film, however, has sparked debate among shoppers over the affordability, practicality and availability of alternative options.

The interim government initiated the ban targeting supermarkets first, with smaller markets set to follow from Nov 1.

During visits to supermarkets in several areas, newspaper staff reported that several stores had implemented the ban but customer reactions were mixed.

At a store of the Agora retail chain in the Shewrapara area of Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, a loudspeaker informed shoppers of the plastic bag ban and urged them to bring eco-friendly bags.

A salesman at the store said: "This isn't new for us; we have avoided polybags for a while. But with the government's renewed directive, we have reminded customers and encouraged them to bring bags from home."

He pointed to jute bags for sale as an alternative, adding, "We offer these at a minimal cost, but customers aren't happy with the price so far."

Across the supermarkets visited, alternative bags made from jute or paper were priced between $0.05 to $0.25. Some shoppers were not happy about it as polythene bags were previously free.

Shopper Md Salah Uddin said: "Banning polythene is positive, but what are the practical alternatives? It would be better if these were free."

Another shopper expressed concerns about carrying perishable items, asking: "How will we carry fish and meat in paper or jute bags? We used to get polythene for this, but what's the alternative now?"

At some stores, plastic food wrap was still being used to package fish, meat and fruit.

Store branch manager Saurav said: "We have to use this amount of plastic to keep food fresh. Currently, there's no alternative."

Hasan Ali, a senior salesman at Meena Bazar, said, "Many customers praised the decision, but some got into arguments with our staff because we couldn't provide bags for free."

On Sept 24, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change of Bangladesh, launched a "Clean-Up" campaign at the Mohammadpur town hall market area to implement the ban.

She said supermarkets would be the first focus of the ban, starting from Oct 1, and from Nov 1, fresh food markets would follow.

Raids on polythene-producing factories and legal measures are planned as part of the crackdown.

Rizwana also visited several supermarkets in Dhanmondi to monitor compliance with the new policy.

THE DAILY STAR, BANGLADESH