Posted : 04 Oct, 2015Use of jute bags mandatory after Oct 25 for packaging six goods
State Minister for Textile and Jute Mirza Azam has called for strictly following the Jute Packaging Act 2010 and said the use of jute bags would be mandatory after October 25this year for packaging six essential goods, reports BSS.

"The government would ensure compulsory use of jute bags for packaging essentials goods like paddy, rice, wheat, maize, fertiliser and sugar instead of plastic bags," he said while inaugurating a fair of diversified jute goods in Jamalpur yesterday.

The State Minister made it clear that any violation of this act would not be tolerated for the sake of the survival of the jute sector as well as the livelihood of the jute growers in the country.

Around 400 million pieces of jute bags and sacks would be required annually for packaging six essential products, said the state minister, adding, "BJMC would be able to provide half of the total requirement while the private jute mills would meet rest of the demand".

The Jute Diversification Promotion Centre (JDPC) under the Ministry of Textile and Jute organised the fair in collaboration with the district administration. "Our jute industry and the livelihood of jute growers depend on the implementation of this act," he said.

Mirza Azam said exports of jute and jute goods were declining due mainly to reasons like world economic recession, political instability, conspiracies at home and abroad and also trade competition. "So, there is no alternative to increasing local use of jute and jute goods," he said.

Following the enactment of the Jute Packaging Act in October 2010 to boost domestic use of jute bags instead of synthetic ones, Mirza Azam said the government made the act effective from January 2014 for primarily packaging six essential products, but its implementation has been violated on various excuses to subtly destroy the country's jute sector.

He said the present government would take stern action against those, who would be found violating this act from October 25 this year. "I hope all concerned would follow this act to prove their sense of patriotism," he said.

Chaired by Deputy Commissioner of Jamalpur M Shahabuddin Khan, former land minister and chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on Land M Rezaul Karim Hira spoke as the special guest.16/10/2015 | | | | | | | | Concerns grow as jute sacks to be laminated with polythene | | | | | | | | | | Yasir Wardad:

The environmentally-hazardous plastic materials are going to stage a comeback as millers are set to supply polythene-laminated jute sacks for the packaging purpose from December next, officials and traders have said.

The latest move came following worries of the millers and traders about protection of rice, wheat and other cereals from being wet and damaged by rainwater and fogginess.

But the issue became a cause of concern for the environmentalists, who think the initiative will affect the environment badly by polluting water and land.

The government has taken a tough stance on implementation of the Compulsory Jute Packaging Act 2010 by enhancing the number of mobile courts.

The Act has made the use of jute sacks mandatory for the millers and traders involved in trading in rice, wheat, maize, fertilizer, sugar etc for their packaging for the sake of environment.

Government departments and organisations under different ministries will have to use jute bags to pack their food products.

The Act was passed by the Bangladeshi Parliament also for boosting the local jute industry which (jute sector) has been going through a crucial time for sagging demand in the global jute market.

According to the Department of Jute (DoJ), around 450 mobile courts launched drives since the mandatory jute packaging act was made effective on January 1, 2014.

Each violator will face imprisonment up to one year or a penalty of Tk 50,000 or both depending on the degree of non-compliance.
An official at the jute ministry told the FE that the government agreed that both the state-run and private jute millers would provide jute sacks as required by the millers.

He said the millers sought jute bags laminated with products which could protect cereals from water and fogginess.
He said plastic could be used slightly to fulfill their requirement but it might be pricier, he said.

Jute scientist and agro-market expert Dr M A Sobhan told the FE that the use of plastic (maybe in a lesser volume) would also affect the environment.

He said it would go against the key objective of using jute sacks for the sake of safe environment.
"Yes, hike in use of jute products will boost our jute industry, but we can't avoid the issue of nature," said Dr Sobhan, a former director of Bangladesh Jute Research Institute (BJRI).

"If we compromise at the beginning, then in the long run plastic will regain its ground," he said. He also pointed out that the government had to search for alternative materials than plastic to meet the millers' requirement.

"Many biodegradable products could be used for lamination and research should be done on those before the millers and traders are forced to use jute bags made of 100 per cent jute", he said.

When contacted, director (Production and Jute) of Bangladesh Jute Mills Association (BJMC) Col. (Retd) K Lenin Kamal told the FE that the Act could not be effective only for the apathy of the rice millers.
He said jute millers had various categories of products from which the millers and traders could choose theirs.

He said the BJMC and BJMA (Bangladesh Jute Mills Association) would also handle the environmental issue seriously.
"There is a certain limit of mixing plastic with jute in a way that it would do no harm to nature and it would degrade after a period of time," he said.

He also said the millers require 700-800 million sacks annually but "we have the capacity to supply 1.3 to 1.34 billion sacks."
He said after meeting the local demand, "we will have the option to export also."

General secretary of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) Dr Abdul Matin said plastic pollution emerged a major problem for land and water resources of Bangladesh.

He said more than 40 per cent of pollution in Bangladesh was caused by plastic.

The drainage system in big cities like Dhaka was also seriously affected by plastic pollution, he said.
Secretary of Bangladesh Auto Major Husking Mills Owners Association KM Layek Ali told the FE that they were ready to use jute sacks as per the government law.

He said the government has to ensure smooth supply of sacks numbering 700- 800 million annually for rice millers and traders.
He said they require jute sacks that could protect rice from rain and dampness in winter despite its being pricier.

"We thank the government that they have agreed to provide jute sacks as per our demand," he said.
However, many rice millers talking to the FE isaid prices of rice would increase and local millers would face a tough competition with the importers in the case of using jute sacks.

They called for ensuring the use of jute sacks also by the importers and their distributors to create a level-playing field.
Many millers also demanded raise in import duty on rice further for implementation of the CJPA 2010.

The government has taken a tougher stance on enforcing the law. Licences will be cancelled of the rice miller found violating the condition.

While giving fresh licences or renewal of the same, the food directorate will set a condition of compulsory use of jute sacks by the applicants in packing their products.

In granting loans to the traders and millers of selected products including rice, paddy, maize, fertiliser and sugar, the Bangladesh Bank also has set the condition of mandatory use of jute-made bags.

Millers and traders, who will not use jute sacks, will not get bank loans after November 30 next, according to the jute ministry | | | | | | | | | | |
Gulf Times
Bangladesh’s campaign for mandatory use of jute bags faces hurdle
December 01 2015 09:30 PM

International Bangladesh

RELATED STORIES

-------------------------------------------------
Top of Form
Rate
Bottom of Form
Text Size: A A A
The current stock of jute bags can meet the demand of the next two months as there is a demand of 800mn jute bags in Bangladesh every year.
By Mizan Rahman
Dhaka
Bangladesh’s drive against plastic bags to enforce mandatory use of jute bags for packaging might face a setback due to shortage and high price of jute bags.
Wholesalers say rice packed in jute bags remains in a good condition for a longer period than in plastic bags. Besides, a plastic bag costs 15-20 taka while a jute bag weighing 300gm costs 55-60 taka which will surely lead to a hike by 1 taka for per kg rice.
When it comes to popularity and price, consumers say they use plastic bags as it is available and cheaper.
Although both traders and consumers have welcomed the government’s move to introduce jute bags for packaging, they demanded that the price of jute bags be lowered and made available everywhere.
Officials said the current stock of jute bags can meet the demand of the next two months as there is a demand of 800mn jute bags in Bangladesh every year.
They, however, hope people will respond to the government’s call for jute bag use.
Bangladesh made the use of jute sacks mandatory for packaging six items containing 50kg and above after November 30. It launched a drive on Tuesday against the use of plastic bags to make sure jute bags are used accordingly.
Drives will be conducted against those who do not pack the six essentials - paddy, rice, wheat, maize, fertiliser and sugar.
During a visit to rice wholesale shops in Dhaka’s Mohammadpur Market, it was seen almost 85% of rice have been kept in plastic bags in every shop.
Shop owners said they were not getting any plastic bags during the last five days as the government banned it after November 30.
They also said it will take two or three more months to end the stock of plastic bags.
Masum Hossain, a shop owner, said, “We need time to fully abide by the government’s decision as we have got huge rice in plastic bags in our stock. If we use the jute bags, the rice price will go up by 1 taka per kg.”
He said jute bag price needs to be brought down to that of plastic bags to encourage all to use jute bags.
Abdur Rahman, another trader, said the government should allow the use of plastic layers in jute bags which are good for rice.
He, however, said they would comply with the government’s decision as jute bags are environment-friendly ones.
State Minister for Textiles and Jute Mirza Azam said, “We’re receiving positive response from all regarding the use of jute bags as we conducted awareness campaigns in the last six months in this regard.”
About the demand and supply of the jute bags, the junior minister said they have made mandatory the use of jute bags for six items.
“We need 800mn bags every year. The government has the stock for two months.”
He said if the government’s directive is followed strictly, Bangladesh would regain its lost glory of jute, and hoped that people will use jute bags imbued with patriotism.

The Daily Star
12:00 AM, December 27, 2015 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:53 AM, December 27, 2015
Govt tightens rules of jute packaging
Star Business Report
The government has tightened the rules of compulsory jute packaging for six commodities in an effort to ensure a wider use of the green fibre and support the jute sector.
The textiles and jute ministry made jute bags and sacks compulsory for packing any quantity of paddy, rice, wheat, maize, fertiliser and sugar, cancelling its previous order that mandated the use of jute bags for packaging only 20kg of goods and above.
The move came after millers started selling rice in 19.5kg plastic bags or lower to circumvent the jute packaging law, industry stakeholders said.
"We discovered the practice after starting a drive to ensure compliance with the law,” said a senior official of the Department of Jute.
"So, the use of jute is now a must for any quantity of these commodities.”
The jute ministry has also formed a nine-member panel to look into the production and use of plastic bags. The committee's report, due by December 30, will be used to make recommendations for the control of plastic bags
In the face of continued non-compliance, the jute ministry began a crackdown to enforce the law throughout Bangladesh. In October, Bangladesh Bank asked all banks not to lend money to organisations and traders that do not use jute items to pack these commodities.
The government in 2010 passed a law making jute packaging mandatory for certain percentage of food items and fertiliser, to cushion the jute sector against the vagaries of the global market and limit the use of environmentally harmful plastic bags.
In 2013, the government framed rules to implement the law, stipulating that all traders as well as government organisations must use jute bags to pack these commodities. It also asked all rice millers and traders to clear their stock of plastic bags by December 31 of the same year.
However, private companies remained non-compliant, citing reasons such as higher cost of jute sacks compared to plastic bags and problems in branding.
Millers said the added costs from compliance to the law will be passed on to consumers, in the form of higher rice prices. They also blame a lack of availability of jute sacks for non-compliance.
Jute millers have claimed to have adequate stocks to meet rice millers' demand.
Copyright:
Any unauthorised use or reproduction of The Daily Star content for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited and constitutes copyright infringement liable to legal action.

Use of jute bags mandatory after Oct 25’ (The news today)
State Minister for Textile and Jute Mirza Azam has called for strictly follow the Jute Packaging Act-2010 and said the use of jute bags would be mandatory after October 25 this year for packaging six essential goods, reports BSS. “The government would ensure compulsory use of jute bags for packaging essentials goods like paddy, rice, wheat, maize, fertilizer and sugar instead of plastic bags,” he said while inaugurating a fair of diversified jute goods in Jamalpur on Friday. The state minister also made it clear that any violation of this act would not be tolerated for the sake of the survival of jute sector as well as the livelihood of the jute growers in the country. The Jute Diversification Promotion Centre (JDPC) under the Ministry of Textile and Jute organized the fair in collaboration with the district administration. “Our Jute industries and the livelihood of jute growers depend on the implementation of this act,” he said. Mirza Azam said exports of Jute and Jute goods were declining due mainly to reasons like world economic recession, political instability, conspiracy at home and abroad and also trade competition. “Under such a circumstance, there is no alternative to increasing local use of Jute and Jute goods,” he said. Following the enactment of the Jute Packaging Act in October 2010 to boost domestic use of jute bags instead of synthetic, Mirza Azam said the government made the act effective from January 2014 for primarily packaging six essential products, but its implementation has been violated on various excuses to subtly destroy the country’s jute sector. He said the present government would take stern action against those, who would be found violating this act from October 25 this year. “I hope all concerned would follow this act to prove their sense of patriotism,” he said. Chaired by Deputy Commissioner of Jamalpur M Shahabuddin Khan, former land minister and Chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on Land M Rezaul Karim Hira spoke as the special guest. Around 40 crore pieces of jute bags and sacks would be required annually for packaging six essential products, said the state minister, adding, “BJMC would be able to provide half of the total requirement while the private jute mills would meet rest of the demand”.

The daily observer
Use of jute bags mandatory after Oct 25
Staff Correspondent
Published :Sunday, 4 October, 2015, Time : 12:00 AM View Count : 19
The government is likely to impose restriction on using plastic and other bags for packaging of essential goods like paddy, rice, wheat, maize, fertilizer and sugar to ensure mandatory use of jute bags after October 25 this year.
Jute packaging of the six essential goods would be mandatory from October 25. The government has already decided to operate mobile court from the date, Ministry's Public Relation Officer Rezaul Karim told the Daily Observer on Saturday.
Earlier, State Minister for Textile and Jute Mirza Azam on Friday told reporters that use of jute bags would be mandatory after October 25 this year for packaging of the six essential goods.
Urging the bag users to follow the 'Jute Packaging Act, 2010' strictly, Azam said, "Compulsory use of jute bags would be ensured mandatory for packaging of essentials goods like paddy, rice, wheat, maize, fertilizer and sugar instead of plastic bags."
Quoting the State Minister, the Rezaul said the government will not tolerate any violation of the law for the sake of survival of jute sector as well as livelihood of the jute growers in the country.
"Our Jute industries and livelihood of jute growers depend on the implementation of this Act," he said and added that exports of jute and jute goods were declining mainly due to world economic recession, political instability, conspiracy at home and abroad and also trade competition.
He said that the act was enacted in 2010 to boost up domestic use of jute bags instead of synthetic. Though the government made it effective from January 2014 for primarily packaging of six essential products, the implementation was violated on various excuses to destroy the jute sector. In this situation, there is no alternative of increasing local use of Jute and Jute goods.
Stern action would be taken against those, who will be found violating the law after the deadline. We hope all concerned would follow the law to prove their sense of patriotism, he said.
- See more at: http://www.observerbd.com/2015/10/04/113581.php#sthash.x3xCPfE0.dpuf

Daily sun:
Jute sacks must for sugar, fertiliser packaging
Staff Correspondent
13 November, 2015 23:09

The government has initiated a move to bring fertiliser and sugar businesses across the country under the Mandatory Jute Packaging Law 2010 so that jute sacks are used in packaging.
The authorities would take any action deemed necessary to this end.
The law was aimed at ensuring the use of environment-friendly jute products for packaging rice, maize, wheat, fertiliser, sugar and suchlike.
Rice millers were earlier cautioned to use jute sacks instead of plastic sacks.
This time, the government is going to take a hard line on wayward fertiliser traders, sugar refiners and state-run sugar millers, said an official seeking anonymity.
He said an inter-ministerial meeting was held on November 4 aiming to search the pathway to bring fertiliser and sugar businesses under MJPL.
State Minister for Textile and Jute Mirza Azam chaired the meeting where representatives from line ministries, Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation, Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation, Bangladesh Fertiliser Association, Bangladesh Sugar Refiners Association and Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation were present.
However, the meeting decided that BCIC will have to buy 50 per cent of its required jute sacks directly from BJMC.
The official said a committee, led by Md Moazzem Hossain, director general of the department of jute, has also been formed to ensure use of jute products at state-run sugar mills.
The committee organised a multilateral meeting with BSFIC, BSTI and BJMC on November 11 where quality, size, quantity and prices of jute sacks were discussed for state-run sugar mills.
Another meeting was held the next day to set requirements, quality and prices of jute sacks for private sugar refiners and fertiliser traders.
After ensuring the use of sacks by fertiliser and sugar traders, the government will start a drive against the violators of the law.
Dhaka tribune
January 26, 2016
Mandatory use of jute sacks increases rice price
Abu Bakar Siddique * Price of rice at the wholesale markets of Dhaka has gone up ever since traders started packaging food grains in jute bags in accordance with the existing mandatory jute packaging law. Although the switch from plastic to jute sacks was a more environment-friendly option, it has driven the costs up quite a bit. The photo was taken on Sunday at Mohammadpur Town Hall market
Photo- SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN
The implementation of the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010 has hiked the price of rice by around Tk1 per Kg.
Rice millers are now charging an additional Tk40-60 for a 50kg rice sack, depending on the quality of jute sacks.
On November 30 last year, the government implemented the jute packaging act, forcing millers to use jute sacks instated of plastic sacks priced at Tk12-16 each.
“We now add the price of jute sacks to the price of rice, which is why there has been a small hike in the price of rice,” said Nirod Baran Saha, convener of Naogaon Rice Millers Association, adding that millers had begun using jute sacks as per the instruction of the government.
To promote the country’s jute sector, the government in January 2014 enacted the jute packaging act, which makes the use of jute for all kinds of packaging mandatory.
According to the law, paddy, rice, wheat, maze, fertiliser and sugar must be packaged in jute bags. Violators will be subjected to a maximum of one-year prison term or a fine of Tk50,000, and both for using non-degradable synthetics to package commodities.
According to the Department of Agricultural Marketing, the price of coarse rice in wholesale market was Tk26.50 per kg yesterday. This means the price of 50 kilogrammes of rice should be Tk1,325.
But wholesale traders charged Tk1,400 or more for a 50kg rice sack by adding the additional price of the sack.
Md Shahidullah, owner of Dhaka Rice Agency who has an outlet at Karwan Bazar in the capital, told the Dhaka Tribune sellers had to charge the extra money as they themselves had paid for sacks while buying rice.
Nirod said the country is now enjoying food surpluses because of surplus in domestic production and a big volume of import of rice from India last year.
“This has brought down the price of rice at an affordable level. But when stocks will shrink in April or May, prices may go up and the additional price of sacks will make consumers unhappy,” he added.
As of January 20, the government procured 70,782 tonnes of Aman rice. Procurement began on December 15 last year and will continue till March 15.
Meanwhile, the government’s food reserve stands at around 1.515 million tonnes, up from 1.283 million tonnes last year.
- See more at: http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2016/jan/26/mandatory-use-jute-sacks-increases-rice-price#sthash.ul6tnPfF.dpuf

July 11, 2014 1:00 pm JST
Bangladesh's jute may solve the world's plastic problem
JOSEPH ALLCHIN, Contributing writer

Jute is a versatile fiber that can even be used as a building material. Courtesy of Fawaz Rob/Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute
DHAKA -- Long before Bangladesh became known for its low-end apparel sweatshops, it had a top-class jute industry. Fiber that grew best in the humid swamps of the Ganges delta was weaved into biodegradable rope, sacks and carpets, then sold around the world. Jute went into serious decline following the development of the petroleum-based synthetic packaging industry, whose bags now litter many streets and waterways. A shift back to jute products like burlap might have substantial global environmental benefits. But Bangladesh's jute industry is hurting. Bangladesh's jute export earnings for the year ending March 2013 were $193.52 million. This past fiscal year they were $92 million. Exports to Thailand fell by more than 80% between July 2013 and April 2014, apparently because a major Thai rice producer switched from burlap to plastic bags. Exports to the big markets of India and Indonesia are also falling, as are prices: The global price of burlap sack fell 7.5% in fiscal 2014, according to research by the Center for Policy Dialogue, a Dhaka-based think tank. Dozens of Bangladeshi jute mills have closed in the past year. "We are (the) curators of a museum," joked Shahidul Karim, secretary of the Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association, an industry body. Competing with supercheap plastic remains difficult. There is one hope. Mahbub Ullah, executive secretary of the International Jute Study Group in Dhaka, said the "immense" environmental benefits of jute offer the possibility of a renaissance for this venerable industry -- if the opportunities could be embraced. "One hectare (10,000 sq. meters) of jute plants can offset carbon dioxide emissions from 20 cars a year, " Ullah said. He also noted that nature can quickly reclaim burlap, whereas plastic bags take hundreds of years to decay. "An estimated 46,000 pieces of plastic are floating in every square kilometer of ocean," he said. "Distressingly, seabirds and mammals die from ingesting these plastics."

Jute is sometimes used to patch tin roofs in Bangladesh. Courtesy of Fawaz Rob/Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute

Jute could not only replace plastic packaging, Ullah said, but also be blended with other materials into biocomposites for use in car interiors, electronic casings and other surfaces. Fawaz Rob, an architect who teaches at North South University in Dhaka, said jute could also be used as a building material instead of tin. The metallic element is widely used in Bangladeshi housing but is prone to rust and provides little insulation. A clinic in rural Faridpur, about 140km southwest of Dhaka, was built with a jute-tin material that has proven to have much better insulation properties than similar buildings built with tin alone. The jute-tin material is also rustproof and more sustainable, Fawaz Rob said.

today's paper >> news >> published: 01:30 december 2, 2015
Fertiliser dealers enforce strike for indefinite period
Anwar Hussain, Chittagong
Fertiliser dealers yesterday enforced a countrywide strike for an indefinite period protesting the on-going mobile court drive to ensure use of jute sack instead of polythene.
The dealers are now using polypropylene bags instead of jute sack to distribute fertiliser across the country.
The dealers of Chittagong have suspended unloading all types of fertilisers from yesterday morning from two factories of Diammonium Phosphate Fertiliser Company Ltd, Chittagong Urea Fertiliser Ltd, Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company and Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation.
Md Nasir Uddin, president of Chittagong chapter, Bangladesh Fertilizer Association told the Dhaka Tribune that they would enforce the strike until the issue was resolved.
“The fertilisers are basic substances and they cannot be carried in jute sacks. The jute sacks will get damaged from 10-15 days if fertilisers are carried in jute sacks,” added the leader of the fertliser dealers.
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, fertiliser and sugar. Violators face a maximum of one year in jail or a fine of Tk50,000 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.

today's paper >> back page >> published: 02:19 july 21, 2015 >> updated : 02:03 july 21, 2015

Jute department seeks DoE’s help to stop polythene bag production
Abu Bakar Siddique
The Department of Jute has sought the Department of Environment’s help in stopping the production of polyethene or poly bags and sacks in the country as it prepares to implement the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010.
“We have sent a letter at the Department of Environment authorities asking for their cooperation in stopping poly bag production, and we are going to sit in a meeting in this regard soon,” said Mohammad Kefaetulla, director at the Department of Jute.
The environment authorities can help by not permitting poly bag producers to produce the plastic bags and sacks which are used to package rice, sugar, fertiliser and many other products, sources said.
The government enacted the jute packaging act in January last year aiming to revive the jute industry, making it mandatory for the country’s agriculture sector to make all kinds of packaging with jute material.
The law says that paddy, rice, wheat, maize, fertiliser and sugar must be packaged in jute bags. Violation of the law will result in a maximum sentence of one year in jail or a fine of Tk50,000 or both for using non-degradable synthetics to package commodities.
However, the government’s move to implement the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010 has stumbled due to lack of cooperation from rice mill owners, the major instruments in implementing the act.
Most of the rice mills in the country are still using contraband plastic sacks that are also detrimental to the environment.
“Implementation of the act has been slow just because rice mill owners, who are not interested in packing their products in jute sacks, have been blocking the initiative,” Kefaetulla said last month.
Asked about the Department of Jute’s letter, Department of Environment Director General Raisul Islam Mondal told the Dhaka Tribune that his department would lend all its support to the jute sector.
The Department of Environment is the authority responsible to issue environmental clearance to any kind of industry which produces industrial goods, including poly bags.
According to the Department of Jute, around 750 million jute bags are to be used annually and 50% of the jute production will be consumed locally once the packaging act is implemented.
Sources from Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) claimed that the sector would regain strengths overnight if only 20% of the businesses started using bags made of “the Golden Fibre of Bengal.”
Kefaetulla said rice millers use around 1.4 million synthetic sacks annually for packaging their products; if these sacks could be replaced with jute sacks, it could make a significant difference.

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Environment activists form a human chain in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka on Thursday, demanding implementation of law against polythene. — New Age photo
Despite a ban on polythene shopping bags, they are being traded and used throughout the country due to lack of government initiatives to promote jute bags as an alternative.
Experts alleged the government has failed to enforce the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act-2010 to boost the use of jute bags instead of polythene or polypropylene bags for packaging goods like food items.
Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation chairman Major General (Retd) Humayun Khaled said that BJMC had decided to implement the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act-2010 from January 1, 2014 and BJMC is ready to produce jute bags, but first the government needs to create demand for jute bags among consumers.
Law enforcing agencies need to enforce the law for mandatory use of jute bags and more mobile court drives are needed to check production, marketing and sale of polythene bags across the country, said the chairman.
Humayun said around 40 crore bags and sacks will be required annually for packaging six essential products such as paddy, rice, wheat, maize, fertilizer and sugar.
BJMC will be able to supply 50 per cent of the total requirement, while private jute mills will meet the rest of the demand.
BJMC former director (marketing) Shamsul Haq said that plastic and polythene shopping bag manufacturers are so powerful they still carry out strong lobbying against the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010.
He said that synthetic bags are being produced and indiscriminately used for packaging, causing environment pollution.
Green organisation Poribesh Bachao Andalan joint general secretary Md Abdus Sobhan urged the government to take initiative to produce adequate quantity of jute bags in the country to create alternative to polythene shopping bags.
He blamed law enforcing agencies and the Department of Environment for their lacklustre role in stopping the sale of polythene shopping bags.
Sobhan said polythene bags are non-biodegradable, they do not decompose in a natural process and remain intact in the soil, disturbing the flow of nutrients and sunlight to the soil.
Polythene also destroys beneficial bacteria in soil, affects its fertility and causes soil compaction in the long run.
Medical science has shown polythene to be an agent of cancer, skin diseases, and other health problems, he said.
Sobhan said heavy use and whimsical disposal of polythene is causing environment pollution and health hazards in the country, though the government banned the manufacture, marketing and use of polythene shopping bags as early as 2002.
He said under the Article 6 (a) of Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act 1995, the government has banned production, import, marketing, sale, display, stock and use of polythene for commercial purpose.
Top of Form
Bottom of Form
ONLINE POLL
Top of Form

Do you think the police are trying to suppress the Tonu murder case as Comilla superintendent of police urged people to look forward keeping Tonu issue aside? * Yes * No * No comment
Bottom of Form

Disadvantages of using jute bags:
 The bags are not very resistant to moisture unless chemically treated or laminated
Grainy texture
 Not easily branded—print capability is clunky and limited—so fewer organizations choose this material for their bags  Needs to be washed regularly to prevent bacterial cross contamination of food * Exact printing impression will not come or as per digital impression * Not washable * Jute Fabric is Porous Fabric so it has small gaps in the fabric visible through naked eyes
The Daily Star
Use of jute bags
Engr. S.A. Mansoor, Dhaka

A front-page news item on the subject was published in a daily on June 17th.
This is an important matter, and I would request the decision makers, who are to look into the matter, to consider certain real issues on jute bag packaging, before reaching their conclusion and sending their recommendation to parliament for passing necessary laws. There are some important deficiencies in the direct use of jute fibre that is woven into jute bags, and these disadvantages need to be taken into consideration before coming to any decision on the issue.
Firstly, jute bags are not waterproof. Untreated bags may not be suitable for packing rice and other food grains. Long storage of these essential food items in moist jute bags and under pressure of the stacks of bags over it; the moist bag can cause molds to grow resulting in spoilage and degeneration of food grains, making it unsafe and unfit for human consumption.
Sugar and salt, if stored in jute bags and subject to rain during loading transport and unloading, will dissolve these products in contact with moisture resulting in the weight loss of these items due to dissolving in water! The same thing will happen with fertilizer.
If cement is carried or stored in moist jute bags, then the cement will set, and it will be useless; as cement reacts with water chemically! These matters need to be considered before we consider the use of jute bags. It may be quite possible to make jute fibres waterproof; but will this be cost-effective in comparison to waterproof bags of other artificial chemical fibres? These are now being used in manufacturing 'paper bags', as we call it today, which are waterproof.
Given the recent discovery of the possibility of modifying DNA of jute cells, it may be possible through further research and development to have water proofing genes introduced in the jute cell. This can then enable us to produce waterproof jute fibre, which will remove most of the disadvantages of jute bags used for packing. Till such time, the scope of jute bags as general packing material is somewhat limited!
Copyright:
Any unauthorised use or reproduction of The Daily Star content for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited and constitutes copyright infringement liable to legal action.