Textiles and Jute Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak has said that people will use Sonali bag made of jute instead of polythene, and efforts are underway to make them affordable for everyone.
"To replace the polythene, we are trying to keep the price of Sonali bags within the purchasing power of the common people,” said Nanak on Wednesday (3 April) while visiting Latif Bawani Jute Mills.
He said that commercial production of Sonali bags will start after the release of Tk100 crore in July.
Nanak said, "Our future generation will face a dangerous environment due to excessive use of plastic or polythene in Bangladesh. So, we will launch an operation against the use of polythene. Before implementing this, we must offer an alternative to the people. Thus, we are striving to make Sonali bags accessible to everyone.”
The minister also hopes that they will succeed even if plastic traders pose a big obstacle to Sonali bags. The Jute minister urged private sector investors to come forward to produce the environmentally friendly bags.
He said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed his ministry to provide full cooperation to scientist Dr. Mubarak Ahmad Khan, the inventor of the Sonali bag manufacturing plant.
Scientist Mubarak Ahmad Khan said that his Sonali bags are biodegradable, 100% eco-friendly, and carbon-negative products.
He mentioned that Sonali bags dissolve in water within 8 hours.
Currently, they are producing 250 kg per day and have the capacity to produce one ton.
Mubarak Ahmed emphasized that increased awareness among people will help overcome the plastic barrier. He suggested that, like other countries, the government should take strict action by banning plastic and polythene.
Textiles and Jute Secretary Md Abdur Rauf and Bangladesh Jute Mill Corporation (BJMC) Chairman Farooq Ahmed were present.
