Fertiliser dealers called off their countrywide strike yesterday, one day after they went to the strike protesting the decision of mandatory use of jute sack instead of Polypropylene bags for distributing fertilisers across the country.
Md Nasir Uddin, president of Chittagong chapter, Bangladesh Fertiliser Association told the Dhaka Tribune that they had withdrawn the strike upon receiving assurance from Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury.
“Kamrul Ashraf Khan MP, chairman of Bangladesh Fertiliser Association, discussed the issue with Agriculture Minister. The minister verbally assured of relaxing the decision of using jute sacks for supplying fertlisers, added Nasir Uddin.
The dealers of Chittagong went for the strike on Tuesday.
The dealers and suppliers opposed the government decision saying that the fertilisers are basic substances and they cannot be carried in jute sacks. The jute sacks get damaged within 10-15 days if fertilisers are carried in jute sacks.
It may be mentioned that the Ministry of Textile and Jute has started a drive from Monday to ensure implementation of the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act, 2010.
As per the act, use of jute sacks is mandatory in packaging six essential products – paddy, rice, wheat, maize, fertiliser and sugar. Violators face a maximum of one year in jail or a fine of Tk50,000 or both for using non-degradable synthetics to package commodities.
The Mandatory Jute Packaging Act was enacted in October 2010 and the rules under the law were framed in June 2013 to facilitate the implementation of the law with a view to boosting domestic use of jute bags instead of synthetic. Consumption of locally produced and environment-friendly jute would be increased due to the implementation of the act.