Banning the use of polythene is not a solution as it will cause the destruction of over 6,000 industries and the livelihood of 1.3 million people. Such action will create more unemployment in a country where unemployment is widespread.
Samim Ahmed, President of Bangladesh Plastic Products Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BPGMEA), said these things at a press conference held at its own office in Paltan in the capital on Sunday (January 12).
Former presidents of the organization ASM Kamal Uddin and Ferdous Wahed, Senior Vice President KM Iqbal Hossain, Vice President Kazi Anwarul Haque were also present at the press conference.
He said the initiative to convert waste into wealth through plastic recycling should be taken seriously. Along with this, measures must be taken to reduce global warming and prevent plastic pollution of ocean
It is also essential to take necessary measures to know what the economic impact will be and to take necessary decisions after discussing with the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Industries, BIDA, FBCCI and other organizations.
Responding to a question, he said, 17 Single Use Plastic (SUP) items have been banned and if this banning is implemented, the economic damage will be severe. In addition, foreign investors operating in the country will leave.
New investments will stop and if the invested factories are closed, it will have a negative impact on the GDP. He said, in 2002, a notification was issued to stop plastic made shopping bags in the country and as a result, 300 BPGMEA factories were closed.
This caused a loss of crores of taka. But the purpose of this closure was not achieved; so any move to ban new plastic factories in the name of restorting quality of life need to be thoroughly examined.
