Govt drive to make use of jute bags mandatory from May 15

The government will launch a special drive from May 15 to ensure the mandatory use of jute bags for packaging 17 commodities, including paddy, rice, wheat, maize, fertilisers, sugar, onion, ginger, garlic, pulses, potato, flour, chili, turmeric, coriander seeds and husks of rice and wheat.
The main objective is to ensure that everyone uses jute bags instead of plastic ones, failing which both fines and jail sentences would be imposed, state minister for textiles and jute Mirza Azam told The Independent.
According to the ministry, at the initial stage, the drive will be carried out against those who are using bags of 50kg and above. Simultaneously, the drive will be carried out against those using bags of 5kg and above.
Despite the law making it mandatory to use jute bags instead of plastic ones, some people are still using plastic bags in violation of the law passed by the Jatiya Sangsad in 2010.
“We will conduct a special drive from May 15. Those who flout the law would get a one-year jail term or Tk. 50,000 as penalty or both. Besides, the licences—IRC, ERC and bank loan facilities—would also be cancelled,” Mirza Azam said.
The government will not brook any violation of the Act to ensure survival of the jute sector as well as the livelihood of jute-growers in the country, he said, adding that the special drive, including mobile courts, will be conducted across the country at the divisional, district, upazila and thana level.
“We will emphasise jail sentences and fines during the special drive on May 15,” the state minister said in reply to a query.
He has also directed law enforcement agencies to strictly implement the ‘Mandatory Use of Jute Goods Packages Act, 2010’.
“Demand for jute bags worth Tk. 100 crore annually would be generated if the law is implemented fully. Besides, the jute farmers will get fair prices and the demand for jute products will increase in local markets as well,” Mirza Azam said.
“It would also save our environment after the law is implemented strictly across the country,” he added.
The government first issued an order to use jute bags on a mandatory basis on December 1, 2015, for six products—paddy, rice, wheat, corn, fertilisers and sugar.
On January 24, 2017, the government made use of jute bags mandatory for packaging 11 more commodities—onion, ginger, garlic, pulses, potato, flour, chili, turmeric, coriander seeds and husks of rice and wheat.
The use of jute bags is now compulsory in the preservation and transportation of 20kg or more of the 17 commodities in the country.
Mirza Azam has said the government currently has a huge stock of jute bags which can meet the requirements for two months. The production of jute bags would be continued to fulfil future demands, he added.

Govt drive to make use of jute bags mandatory from May 15

The government will launch a special drive from May 15 to ensure the mandatory use of jute bags for packaging 17 commodities, including paddy, rice, wheat, maize, fertilisers, sugar, onion, ginger, garlic, pulses, potato, flour, chili, turmeric, coriander seeds and husks of rice and wheat. The main objective is to ensure that everyone uses jute bags instead of plastic ones, failing which both fines and jail sentences would be imposed, state minister for textiles and jute Mirza Azam told The Independent. According to the ministry, at the initial stage, the drive will be carried out against those who are using bags of 50kg and above. Simultaneously, the drive will be carried out against those using bags of 5kg and above. Despite the law making it mandatory to use jute bags instead of plastic ones, some people are still using plastic bags in violation of the law passed by the Jatiya Sangsad in 2010. We will conduct a special drive from May 15. Those who flout the law would get a one-year jail term or Tk. 50,000 as penalty or both. Besides, the licencesIRC, ERC and bank loan facilitieswould also be cancelled, Mirza Azam said. The government will not brook any violation of the Act to ensure survival of the jute sector as well as the livelihood of jute-growers in the country, he said, adding that the special drive, including mobile courts, will be conducted across the country at the divisional, district, upazila and thana level. We will emphasise jail sentences and fines during the special drive on May 15, the state minister said in reply to a query. He has also directed law enforcement agencies to strictly implement the Mandatory Use of Jute Goods Packages Act, 2010. Demand for jute bags worth Tk. 100 crore annually would be generated if the law is implemented fully. Besides, the jute farmers will get fair prices and the demand for jute products will increase in local markets as well, Mirza Azam said. It would also save our environment after the law is implemented strictly across the country, he added. The government first issued an order to use jute bags on a mandatory basis on December 1, 2015, for six productspaddy, rice, wheat, corn, fertilisers and sugar. On January 24, 2017, the government made use of jute bags mandatory for packaging 11 more commoditiesonion, ginger, garlic, pulses, potato, flour, chili, turmeric, coriander seeds and husks of rice and wheat. The use of jute bags is now compulsory in the preservation and transportation of 20kg or more of the 17 commodities in the country. Mirza Azam has said the government currently has a huge stock of jute bags which can meet the requirements for two months. The production of jute bags would be continued to fulfil future demands, he added.