The mandatory jute packaging act, which was formulated four years ago, exists only on paper since the law has yet to take effect in reality.
The government enacted the law on October 12, 2010 with a view to boosting the country’s dying jute sector and preventing the environment from getting polluted by widespread use of synthetic bags in packaging goods. The law was also empowered to operate mobile courts against any and all violations.
The Textile and Jute Ministry took about two years to publish a gazette notification on the act, making it effective from September 20, 2012.
According to rules made by the Jute Ministry on June 3 last year, no act can be implemented without framing the necessary rules. On November 6, the packaging act was included in the schedule of the Mobile Court Act 2009.
As per the rules, paddy, rice, wheat, maze, fertiliser and sugar must be packaged in jute bags. Violators face a maximum of one year in jail or a fine of Tk50,000 and both for using non-degradable synthetics to package commodities.
However, rice is seen being sold in synthetic bags at most kitchen markets in the capital.
“I purchased rice packaged in synthetic bags,” said a rice dealer at Mohammadpur Town Hall Market.
Officials concerned said plastic industry owners did not want the law to be implemented and lobbied the ministry accordingly.
“Why is the ministry delaying the implementation if it is not being benefited in some way?” said an official.
A senior official of the Jute Ministry, however, claimed that the implementation of the act had begun in January this year.
According to the ministry’s decision, mobile courts were to operate from July but it was deferred in view of a plea from the rice mills associations seeking deferral during Ramadan.
“We have no plan to use jute bags for packaging rice but if we are under pressure, we will give in,” Naogaon District Rice Mill Owners Association President Md Abu Taleb told the Dhaka Tribune recently.
“I suspect the government will not be able to supply jute bags,” he said.
Bangladesh Plastic Manufacturers and Exporters Association President Jasim Uddin said it was impossible to implement the act because the government would not be able to supply 2,000,000 jute bags a day.
He also criticised the government for formulating the act.
“We supply a synthetic bag for Tk8-10,” he said, adding that a jute bag would cost around Tk80.
Jasim also suggested that the government should consider producing high-value jute products. Textile and Jute Secretary Phani Bhushon, however, said on Thursday: “We are fully committed to implement the act.
“We are allowing some time as the stakeholders might argue that they did not know about the implementation of the act. The government is also capable of supplying bags as per the demand.”
Bangladesh Jute Mills Association (BJMA) Secretary Barik Khan said the local consumption of jute would go up if jute bags were used widely.
“We would get competitive price of jute in the international market. BJMA and Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) can supply 12,000,000 jute bags,” Khan said.
According to the Jute Department, around 75 crore jute bags will be used annually and 50% of jute would be consumed locally once the packaging act was implemented.
Around 70 bales of raw jute were produced last year.
A senior Jute Department official said there would be an opportunity to use jute bags worth Tk5,000 crore annually, if the act was implemented.
The 27 mills under BJMC, which are now in sorry states, will also be able to survive if the act is implemented.