Failure to Stop Polythene Use and Adapt Alternatives

The law on banning plastic and plastic bags was passed in 2002, and Bangladesh was the first country to do so. Yet the country's annual plastic waste generation is around 821,000 tonnes. Anyone who buys groceries or vegetables, whether from the roadside or the local markets, will have the shopkeepers hand over the goods in a polybag. This raises questions like, if a product has been banned for the past 14 years, how is it being used anywhere and everywhere? Does this mean that the law has failed, or has the implementation?
Polythene is a synthetic material that does not biodegrade and remains one of the most persistent pollutants. Polythene was born from a mistake back in 1965. However, soon it became famous among supermarkets and their customers. From then until now, it has been the first choice for carrying essentials, dumping waste, packaging, storing food, etc. It is still widely prioritised when it comes to packaging owing to its low cost and convenience.
 A report published in The Guardian ranked Bangladesh 4th among the countries connected to nature. But, very unfortunately, pollutions of various types are putting its nature in peril. The soil pollution caused by glyphosate is one of them. Our government proposed different alternatives, such as the use of jute bags, cloth bags, and so on, in supermarkets or large grocery chains. However, these alternatives scarcely got acceptance among the common people. This happens because people who received free packaging now have to pay an extra amount for packaging.
From a personal experience during a grocery run, I myself have seen an elderly woman carrying her shopped items in a plastic bag that she got from home, as she was against paying for the jute bag that the supermarket would provide. Alongside, there are barely any shops that do not hand over their products in a polythene bag for one to carry them back home. This raises an immediate concern regarding the law and its implementation, which was created more than two and a half decades ago.
One fact that cannot be denied is that polythene is omnipresent. From roadside litter to clogged drains, the main culprit is polythene. As it remains unchanged for years, it works as a barrier inside the drainage systems and clogs lines. As a result, during the monsoon, rainwater does not drain away, and the roads flood. Changes cannot be brought overnight. However, if the motto works such that if it is not reusable, then it cannot be used, that may grow awareness among the commoners. This will show the actual implementation of the laws that exist. Additionally, if the alternatives of polythene are introduced in a more budget-friendly manner, along with creating a higher availability, it will change how people currently view the alternative ideas.
The widespread use of plastic and polythene is greatly contributing to the amount of harmful microplastics that mix in our food. So, the use of polythene bags is now essential not only for the safety of the current generation but also that of the future generations. Indeed, it is the eleventh hour to address the issue and take measures that will actually be a sustainable solution to packaging for the upcoming days.