Textiles and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi on Tuesday directed the officials concerned to ensure the use of jute bags in packaging following the law.
He said the use of jute bags is mandatory in the packaging of 19 products as per the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010 but manufacturers and traders are packaging these commodities using plastic bags.
He said the legal system has to be strengthened in this regard.
Drives to ensure jute bags are ongoing throughout the country but a special drive has to be conducted considering the current situation, he said.
The minister came up with the remarks while meeting a delegation of the Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association (BJSA) at the ministry.
BJSA Chairman Sheikh Afil Uddin, MP, Textiles and Jute Ministry’s Additional Secretary (Planning) Md Mahmud Hossain, Additional Secretary (Jute) Taslim Kaniz Nahida, Akiz Jute Mills Ltd Chairman Sheikh Nasiruddin along with leaders of the association and senior officials of the ministry were also present.
Golam Dastagir Gazi said that the government will continue to provide timely support to develop and modernise the jute sector of Bangladesh.
“Now, the government is providing policy support to the stakeholders of the jute sector alongside providing cash assistance to the export sector of multipurpose jute products.”
He said effective measures have been taken to ensure the supply of raw jute to continue the flow of export earnings from the jute and jute products.
“Instruction was given to the department of jute to take necessary measures to ensure supply of raw jute in the market, to prevent unlicensed unscrupulous traders from buying and selling and stockpiling raw jute and prevention of buying and selling of wet jute,” he said.
The minister said that the market price of jute is always being monitored to ensure the supply of raw jute required in the country and speed up the export of jute and jute products.
He said jute production has increased manifold in recent years due to the proper supply of seeds to ensure jute cultivation as well as other input support to farmers.
Golam Dastagir Gazi also said the jute season has started this year and raw jute has started coming to the market in different parts of the country. The production of raw jute in this season is also satisfactory and the growers will get a good price for good jute.
The raw jute market will always be monitored so that the raw jute price does not become unsustainable due to any reason, he added.
BJSA representatives said that due to the formulation and implementation of multifaceted action plans of the government in the jute sector, the sector is making an outstanding contribution to the national economy.
They said in the current era of sustainable development, there has been a huge demand for eco-friendly jute and jute products worldwide. Everyone should work together to increase the export of eco-friendly jute products.
