Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan spoke at a seminar on plastic pollution control and cleanliness campaigns held at Dhaka University (DU) today. Photo: PID

DHAKA, April 19, 2025 (BSS) - Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan today said jute shopping bags will be distributed among people as an alternative to polythene shopping bags. 

"A project has been initiated to supply these jute bags at subsidised prices," she said while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on plastic pollution control and cleanliness campaign held at Senate Building of the Dhaka University (DU) here.

 In this regard, Rizwana said, coordinated efforts will be taken in collaboration with the Ministry of Textiles and Jute.

She said awareness campaigns will be conducted to encourage people to use jute bags. 

New entrepreneurs will be given support for producing jute bags, she added.

The environment adviser urged all to work together to tackle plastic pollution. 
Unnecessary plastic use must be stopped at the individual level, she said, adding: "It is not true that there is no alternative to plastic." 

"While government initiatives cannot be implemented overnight, they will be carried out gradually," Rizwana said.

She also called upon the DU authorities to declare its campus free from single-use plastics and noise pollution.

Chaired by DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan, the seminar was addressed, among others, by Environment Secretary Dr Farhina Ahmed, Director General of the Department of Environment (DoE) Dr Md Kamruzzaman, Deputy Head of Mission at Royal Norwegian Embassy in Dhaka Marian Rabe Knavelsrud, DU Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic) Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed, Country Representative of UNIDO Bangladesh Dr Zaki Uz Zaman, Dr Afia Shahnaz of Dhaka Medical College and Professor Dr Md Mofizur Rahman of BUET.