Starting Sunday, single-use plastics (SUP) will be completely banned inside the Bangladesh Secretariat, as part of a government drive to protect the environment and public health from plastic pollution.
The Cabinet Division has directed all ministries to enforce the ban and promote eco-friendly alternatives strictly. From now on, polythene bags, plastic bottles, disposable cups, plates, and spoons will no longer be permitted within the Secretariat premises said a press release today.
Authorities said all entry points will be monitored. Anyone found carrying SUP items will be asked to leave them behind, and paper bags will be provided as substitutes. Awareness boards have already been installed at the entrances and key locations across the Secretariat.
A monitoring team has been deployed to oversee implementation, while each ministry has been instructed to appoint a focal person and form a monitoring committee to ensure compliance.
Officials and employees have been asked to use reusable materials such as jute, cloth, and paper bags, and to adopt eco-friendly packaging for meetings, seminars, and daily operations. Ministries have also been advised to revise procurement practices to include sustainable alternatives.
The move is part of the government’s broader plan to phase out single-use plastics nationwide. Officials said the Secretariat, as the country’s administrative center, should lead by example in promoting a plastic-free environment.
“All ministries and departments must fully cooperate to make the Secretariat free of single-use plastics from 5 October 2025,” a Cabinet Division circular stated.
Environmental experts have welcomed the initiative, calling it a symbolic and practical step toward reducing plastic waste, which poses a growing threat to ecosystems and public health.
Bangladesh, which pioneered the global ban on polythene bags in 2002, continues to struggle with plastic pollution, generating nearly a million tonnes of waste annually. Authorities hope that stricter enforcement and model practices in government institutions will help curb the problem nationwide.
