The fertiliser dealers have called off their countrywide strike on Wednesday one day after they went for the strike protesting at the decision of mandatory use of jute sacks instead of Polypropylene (PP) bags for distributing fertilisers all over the country.
Md Nasir Uddin, president of Chittagong chapter, Bangladesh Fertilizer Association, told the Dhaka Tribune that they withdrew the strike upon receiving assurance from Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury.
“Kamrul Ashraf Khan MP, Chairman of Bangladesh Fertilizer Association discussed the issue with agriculture minister. The minister verbally assured of relaxing the decision of using jute sacks for supplying fertlisers,” said 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, fertilizer and sugar. Violators face a maximum of one year in jail or a fine of Tk 50,000 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.
