Shopping bags in supermarkets will no longer be a freebie as outlet owners are offering no free bags as the interim government executes the no-more-polythene-bag policy in super shops from today (Tuesday).
The Bangladesh Supermarket Owners Association will inaugurate the no-more-polythene-bags campaign at Unimart, Gulshan, the same day, according to Zakir Hossain, general secretary of the association.
The supermarket has long been trying to impose charge for bags, but they could not do so thinking about the potential negative impact on it.
The association began a market study last year to see the impact of a charge for shopping bags. It also held meetings about charging bags, but failed to arrive at a decision.
A source earlier told the FE that the members of the association split over the issue and the committee then decided to assess the market reaction.
According to the source, two large members of the association were pushing for charging shoppers for bags in their outlets, while others wanted to wait for economic depression to go.
When approached, Shwapno, the country's largest chain superstore, earlier refused to make any comment on the issue.
However, a Shwapno text message sent to its enlisted customers on Monday, paraphrases: "As per the government's instruction, it is requested that shoppers bring environment-friendly bags for shopping."
"You may also buy bags at an economy price from Shwapno as well," adds the SMS. Meena Bazar and other super shops also send similar SMSs to their customers.
Meena Bazar chief operating officer Shameem Ahmed Jaigirder said they would not use polythene bags in their super shops anymore. Shopping bags are not free in super shops across the world. "So, why it should be free in Bangladesh?" he queried.
"We want customers to reuse the bags and we'll provide eco-friendly, durable bags once we start charging so that they can use bags more than once," cited Mr Jaigirder.
The government is enforcing its no-more-polythene-bag policy, but supermarket owners have long been giving free jute or other eco-friendly bags.
WHY CHARGING NOW?
Mr Jaigirder says the bags they have been using also are not 100-per cent environment-friendly. "So, we are stopping those bags."
Earlier in September, environment, forests and climate change adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the use of polythene and polypropylene shopping bags would be banned across all superstores in Bangladesh starting October 01.
She made the announcement during a meeting with stakeholders at the Bangladesh Secretariat on September 09.
The government will require superstores to offer jute and cloth bags as eco-friendly alternatives. There will also be an emphasis on engaging young people and students in the initiative.
Currently, there are an estimated 500 supershop outlets of the member companies of the association.
Supermarket owners claim this sector has the potential to generate an estimated Tk 50 billion in revenues annually.
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