In the wake of increased usage of polythene as relief bags, the Directorate of Environment (DoE) have urged the concerned authorities to switch to jute bags to protect the environment.

DoE made the proposal for an alternative after it observed the increased use of polythene as bags in relief distribution.

DoE issued the letter on April 30 to the Directorate of Disaster Management, urging it to consider jute bags for the greater interest of protecting the environment.

The letter -- a copy of which The Daily Star obtained -- said, as per environment conservation law-2010 (amended) it is a punishable act to carry, sell, produce and use polythene bags as shopping bags.

The increased use of polythene as relief bags may encourage the production of polythene and violate the law enacted to protect the environment, the letter added, urging the disaster management office to consider alternatives.

Contacted, Dr. A K M Rafiqul Islam, director general of DoE, told The Daily Star that the distribution of relief was now a crying need and must go on.

"We prefer the use of environment-friendly jute bags in relief distribution. We would like to see people avoiding the use of polythene. As the government is stepping up the relief distribution, we urged the concerned authorities to come up with alternatives to polythene", he said.

He said nature was regenerating in absence of manmade hazards. So, using jute bags will help nature keep up its positive changes.

Contacted, Md Mohsinn, director general of the Directorate of Disaster Management, told The Daily Star that they were yet to receive the letter.

"We will definitely consider the recommendation once we get it. We have to save both people and the environment," he added.