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Exclusive Interview

Ban of plastic industries will affect the investors

BPGMEA Prez  Shamim Ahmed tells

Published : Friday, 28 February, 2025 at 12:00 AM  Count : 444
Jibon Islam
Plastic plays a pivotal role in building modern human civilization. The use of plastic is increasing day by day in the developed world covering almost all aspects of life but waste management is equally inseparable to protect environment.

But recent, plastic industry in the country is facing critical challenges. The government wants to ban plastic industries in the name protecting environment. The ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change has issued a gazette notification to ban the use of 17 single use plastic products on June 20, 2024.

It left no alternative to save these plants as it will stifle the industry. This is not good for investors who have made hefty investment in the thriving industry. Ban of plastic industries will affect the investors.
President of Bangladesh Plastic Good Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA) Shamim Ahmed said it while speaking with the Daily Observer.

Shamim said waste management infrastructure is important for plastic industries. Issues like waste collection, sorting, segregation and resource recycling are important in treating plastic raw materials, producing products and managing the waste. He said there is no point in blaming the product without knowing the process.

It is important to raise awareness about waste management. For this all segments of people including religious and educational institutions, mosques, madrasas, temples, schools, colleges and universities should teach people that garbage cannot be thrown anywhere. Designated places should be used for throwing garbage.

To a question regarding bin (a receptacle in which to deposit rubbish), Shamim Ahmed said waste bin should be used in streets for throwing garbage although there is no bin in Dhaka City Street now. Throwing garbage everywhere should be avoided. In addition, a plan should be taken to recycle the garbage and make it usable again. Then, garbage will no longer be garbage and turn into wealth.

On closure of plastic industry, he said the Ministry of Environment issued a notification in 2002 in the name of banning environmental pollution and plastic shopping bags which resulted in closure of 300 BPGMEA units who built large factories for producing plastic shopping bags.

As a result, investments worth hundreds of crores of taka were wasted; workers became unemployed and the plastic sector was severely affected. Production of shopping bags was stopped but this purpose has not been achieved even today.

The BPGMEA president said, as per the Food Safety Act, packaging of iodised salt without plastic is not possible. If it is packed with anything else, the quality of the product will not be maintained. It is not possible to add vitamin A to edible oil without plastic containers. Liquid milk cannot be marketed without plastic packaging. Again, there is no alternative except plastic packaging in maintaining the quality of medicines following International Compliance.

Shamim Ahmed said, UNEA has recognized the contribution of plastic in its Resolution in fostering the modern human civilization. Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) is an ongoing negotiation for Plastic Pollution prevention. This negotiation is going on from 2019 to December 2024. INC Negotiation did not talk about banning plastic during that negotiation.

He said, 100 percent plastic shopping bags are available in Japan Super Shops and are being sold in bulk. They are using it by doing Waste Recovery & Recycling process. In Bangladesh, it is possible to reduce waste and improve the environment through collection, sorting, and recycling.

He further said Bangladesh is a country of lowlands; 54 rivers from India, Nepal and China flow through Bangladesh and bring in a large amount of plastic waste. It is depositing waste in rivers and seas beds of Bangladesh. But it is not reasonable to hold Bangladesh responsible for all the waste.

To another question on bin, Shamim Ahmed said, arrangements should be made to arrange sufficient bin to, convert Waste into Wealth through proper waste collection and management. Investment should be made in the waste management sector of Bangladesh like in the developed world.

He said, it is essential to increase the knowledge of Local Government Institute (LGI), increase capacity and provide related equipment, recruit necessary manpower and adopt a fair policy to make proper plastic waste management.

He further said, Plastic Circularity for Sustainable Waste Management should be introduced. It must use technology for investment in Resource Recovery, Recycling and the government must provide loans on short terms basis to effectively familiarize the circularity. Arrangements should be made to customize it by following the Waste Management policies of Japan, Singapore and other developed industrial countries.

Shamim Ahmed said, the use of plastic products during Covid pandemic was extensive. Plastic packaging in syringes, saline and other daily essential medicines has saved lives. This packaging is not possible by any alternative product. The use of plastic is essential through backward linkage industry in all exports including garments is undeniable. About 30 percent plastic is used in electronic liquids, automobiles, aircraft and ship industries.

He said, the use of plastic in Green House, Mulching, Nursery, Fenching is important for Food Security. The use of plastic in large quantities is noticeable in the production and supply of guava, banana and mango. A lot of plastic nets/sheets are used in intensive fish farming and crates are used in transportation. As a result of all these uses, the possibility of spoilage of products is low.

Shamim Ahmed said, plastic films, sheets, pipes, tree seedlings, textile and jute packaging, flexible pipes, PVC pipes and all these plastic products are used in agriculture. He said, we also want the development of the environment, but the simplest method adopted by the Ministry of Environment to ban products is not correct and not in accordance with science.

He said it is advisable to discuss the economic impact of closing plastic industry with the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Industries, BIDA, FBCCI and other organizations and take a right decision. Moreover, phasing out the use of single use plastic by 2030 should be expedited and Shamim said its implementation should be taken accordingly.



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