Dhaka: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, along with the Press Information Department (PID) offices, have officially been declared free from single-use plastic (SUP), aligning with the broader initiative to make the Bangladesh Secretariat an SUP-free zone.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has outlined a series of proposed alternative products to replace single-use plastic items in an effort to curb environmental pollution. These alternatives include using paper files and folders in place of their plastic counterparts, adopting cotton or jute fabric bags instead of plastic bags, and switching to glass bottles and containers for water.
Further proposals suggest the use of cotton fabric, jute fabric, or biodegradable materials for banners, and avoiding plastic laminates on invitation cards, visiting cards, and brochures. The guidelines also advocate for paper and eco-friendly packaging for food at meetings and seminars, as well as the use of pencils or paper pens instead of plastic pens. Additionally, the use of laminated packaging and plastic in publications, including annual reports, is to be avoided, and the use of plastic in flower bouquets is to be discontinued.
All officers and employees within the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the PID have been instructed to adhere strictly to these recommendations as part of the ministry’s commitment to reducing environmental impact through the elimination of single-use plastics.