Panna Akter’s Initiatives, A women group leader to make polythene free local area

Bangladesh is the first county in the globe that banned the production, marketing and usage of polythene on March 1, 2002. But the reality is not changed even the ban of polythene. The usage of polythene did not stop due to absence of stringent exert of law though there were mandatory law that emphasized usage of materials made of jute instead of polythene. Mosammat Panna Akter, resident of Balashpur area of Mymensingh took alternative initiative realizing the gruesome usage of polythene and make the community people alternative use of it. She distributed bags made of clothes to 20 women making by her own initiatives. She said, the ingredients of polythene is not environment friendly. It is a non-degradable stuff that destroy fertility of soil. Throwing polythene at drain creates waterlogging, and burning it makes air pollution. As a result people are affected from different types of diseases. So, it is only the usage of bags made of paper, jute and cloths can save us from the gruesome of polythene.

Asking the question, how she developed awareness about it and in what way she implemented this initiatives she replied, “I am the women leader of IED organized Rongon Women Group. IED works on issues of development, rights and environment of women, youth and people who are lagging behind. IED tends to organize awareness events like regular monthly meeting, awareness raising video presentation in different times.  Basically she inspired to work on the usage of clothe made bag instead of polythene while seeing IED organized awareness raising video on environment protection. Basically IED works to change of peoples’ attitude and mindset. By using clothes made bag as well as sensitizing people to use bag made of clothes I do stitch bag and distribute it. She informed that she would foster awareness campaign to stop polythene at Abason area. She hopes to make at least small area polythene free.