According to BNCA the intention of such proposal is to encourage the usage of plastic even though it has been banned by law in 2002. COURTESY
The Bangladesh Nature Conservation Alliance (BNCA), a coalition of 33 environmental rights organizations have expressed concern over the proposal to withdraw the supplementary tax on polythene bags and packaging in the FY 2022-23.
“The price of polythene bags, which are very harmful to the environment, will be reduced and the use of this banned material and environmental pollution in the country will increase, if the proposal is implemented,” BNCA said in a media statement on Tuesday.
The proposal to withdraw the supplementary duty is contradictory as the government and government agencies have been protesting the use of harmful polythene, it added.
According to BNCA the intention of such proposal is to encourage the usage of plastic even though it has been banned by law in 2002.
The environmental situation of Bangladesh is disastrous and plastic being a non-degradable product is having a severe impact on the environment, the statement said.
The BNCA made a number of demands including reassessing the proposal of withdrawing supplementary tax, proper implementation of the law to ban environmentally harmful polythene and plastics and taking appropriate steps by the government to stop the use of polythene.
It also recommended bringing all industries that are harmful to the environment under tariffs and encouraging eco-friendly industries.
The situation of environmental pollution is terrible in Bangladesh. Polythene is a non-decomposable product which is seriously impacting the environment of the country.
Bangladesh enacted a law in 2002 banning the use of polythene bags, but this time the proposed budget is encouraging its use, opines BNCA.
The Bangladesh Nature Conservation Alliance is demanding the government to (1) reconsider its proposal to repeal the supplementary duty on polythene, (2) to implement the law banning polythene and plastics harmful to the environment and to take appropriate steps to stop the use of polythene, and (3) to bring all the industries which are harmful to the environment under taxation and to encourage the environment friendly industries by giving incentives.
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