Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed has said that the polythene-free model market committee will be rewarded.
She said this while addressing a view-exchange meeting on banning polythene and single-use plastic, held at the Sylhet Deputy Commissioner's conference room today, as the chief guest.
Dr Farhina said that it is possible to build a model market free from polythene and plastic with the cooperation of the market committee and various government departments. If such a market is built, the committee will be awarded by the environment ministry, she added.
Urging the formation of a committee involving local organizations in waste management, she said, "To stop plastic and polythene pollution, we must first change ourselves; then society will change. It is everyone's responsibility to ensure a safe environment for future generations."
The environment secretary said that the environment is being polluted, rivers and canals are being filled, and microplastics are entering the human body due to lack of proper waste management.
She also mentioned that the government is conducting a legal campaign against banned polythene and has taken up projects to raise awareness and expand the market for alternative products.
The meeting was chaired by Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Sher Mahbub Murad.
Additional Divisional Commissioner Debjit Singh was present at the event as special guest.
Deputy Secretary Siddharth Shankar Kundu highlighted the harm of polythene and the government's initiatives in his keynote paper.
The meeting was attended by the chief executive officer of the city corporation, police, forest department, other government departments, businessmen, hotel owners, journalists, and representatives of voluntary organizations.
