Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s directive to intensify action against the unchecked use of polythene and plastic should not be treated as another routine instruction.
Polythene bags, single‑use plastics, and unregulated packaging have been a major reason for our environmental degradation. The reality has been clogged rivers and drainage systems to contaminated farmlands and wetlands to plastic piling up in urban neighbourhoods with little to no attempt to fix any of it.
We must also recognize that the unchecked use of plastic also contributes to urban flooding, destroys ecosystems, contaminates soil, and adds to the public‑health burden.
That polythene has been banned in Bangladesh for well over two decades now, yet the ban exists only on paper, is what is particularly infuriating. Once again, we already recognize the issue and have the law in place but unfortunately, enforcement has been non-existent and plastic consumption has grown unchecked.
This lack of accountability and disregard that has unfortunately come to define our nation must no longer be tolerated and as such, the prime minister’s words must be treated as a turning point.
Bangladesh cannot aspire to be a middle-income nation while allowing polythene and plastic to undermine every aspect of environmental management.
The government must act decisively. Start with shutting down illegal polythene factories and enforcing fines on distributors. They must also ensure that alternatives -- jute bags, biodegradable packaging, and regulated plastics -- are not only widely available but are a viable alternative for the masses.
Bangladesh has long had the policies, the laws, and the public awareness that polythene and plastic damage our nation. What it has lacked is consistent enforcement and political will. Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has made the call and the country must now respond with urgency and discipline.
A liveable Bangladesh will always be out of reach if polythene and plastic continue to choke our rivers and streets. It is time to clean up.
