Drive Against Polybags

2 factories sealed off in Tongi

30 June 2010, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

A mobile court of the Department of Environ-ment (DoE) yesterday sealed off two polythene bag manufacturing factories and also seized 1,200 kg polythene shopping bags during a drive in Tongi, Gazipur yesterday. The two factories are Shathi enterprise at Sonali Tobacco Road and Khalil Packaging at Taltala Road. The mobile court led by executive magistrate of Gazipur Md Nazmul Hasan also realised Tk 90,000 in fines and filed six cases against 20 owners and employees of six commercial establishments, including the two factories, on charges of producing and using polythene bags. The four other commercial establishments are Al Amin Sweets and Bakery, Al Amin Sweets and Bakery store, Bikrampur Hotel and Restaurant, and Rahim Store in Station Road area. Director (enforcement) of DoE Mohammad Munir Chowdhury and acting Director of Dhaka divisional office Sukumar Biswas were present during the drive. The government imposed a ban on manufacturing, marketing and use of polythene bags in Dhaka city on January 1, 2002, followed by a nationwide ban on April 8 in the same year.