Jute bag mandatory for packaging

The Appellate Division Tuesday vacated a High Court Division order of stay on a government circular making mandatory the use of jute bags for product packaging, paving the way for enforcement of the law, court sources said.

They said the vacation court of Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order staying effectiveness of the High Court order. The apex-court ruling came in response to a government petition filed on July 8.

Earlier, the HC in its ad-interim order had stayed the circular relating to the mandatory jute-bag use and issued a rule on the matter upon a writ petition.

Following the latest court order, the legal bar on using jute bags in commercial packaging of different items, including rice, was removed, a state law officer said.

"Now, the rule would be heard at the HC Division that will decide on its legality," SM Rezaul Karim told the FE.

The circular, issued by the Ministry of Textiles and Jute in September 2013, stated about mandatory use of jute bags for commercial packaging of items by the private rice millers, husking millers and rice traders.

It also stated about execution of mandatory use of jute bags from January 1, 2014, said the sources.

Bangladesh Auto, Major and Husking Mill Owners Association convener and others concerned filed the writ petition with the HC.

Additional Attorney-General Murad Reza (acting Attorney-General) stood for the government while Mr Karin was for the petitioner in the court.