Staff Reporter
The High Court on Thursday wanted to know whether Jute bags were being used in the packaging of 19 essential commodities including rice, pulses and sugar. The concerned authorities of the government have been asked to comply with the asking within two months.
The High Court bench of Justice Zafar Ahmed and Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed in this regard.
The court also issued a rule upon the concerned bodies of the government to explain in four weeks as to why the inaction of the respondents in implementing the “Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010, that require businesses to compulsorily use of jute bags for packaging at least 19 commodities, should not be declared illegal.
Law Secretary, Commerce Secretary, Agriculture Secretary, Jute Secretary, Food Secretary , Disaster Secretary and other respondents have been asked to comply with the ruling.
Barrister Sumaiya Aziz appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the writ petitioner, while Deputy Attorney General Nawroz Mohammad Russel Chowdhury represented the state.
Secretary General of the Bangladesh Jute Mills Association (BJMA) A Barik Khan filed the writ petition.
Later Barrister Sumaiya said, “The government enacted a law in 2010 for the compulsory use of Jute and Jute bags. In the law businessmen were asked to ensure the use of jute bags in the packaging of all products. Later it was required businesses to compulsorily use of Jute bags for packaging at least 19 essential commodities.”
“Jute bags should be used in all cases of import, export and sale of these 19 products. In violation of this law, some unscrupulous traders are using polythene bags in the packaging of their products. Polythene bags are not at all environmentally friendly,” added the lawyer.
In this circumstance, this writ petition was filed on May 26 this year on behalf of the Bangladesh Jute Mills Association (BJMA) seeking implementation of the “Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010.
After hearing the petition the High Court issued the rule and sought a report within two months, said the lawyer.
