The drive follows apparent failure of the ministry to introduce suitable substitutes for polythene shopping bags since they were banned on March 1, 2002.

The taskforce headed by Vice-chancellor of South East University Prof M Shamsher Ali has been asked to report on the state of innovation of alternatives and suggest ways to phase out polythene.

Representatives of scientific research organisations, chamber bodies, banks, financial institutions, non- governmental organisations and others concerned are on the task force, formed at an inter-ministerial meeting with Environment Minister Tariqul Islam in the chair.

Many of the participants said the move to eliminate polythene failed due to lack of proper initiative of the government.

Organisations and individuals engaged in devising alternatives to polythene bags alleged they were not getting support from the authorities for marketing their products and that government policies greatly discourage them to go on with their job.

At the meeting, Principal Scientific Officer of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission Dr Mubarak Ahmad Khan displayed some alternatives to polythene shopping bags, which were made from urea fertiliser, potato peel, scale of fishes and sea lichen.

He said these environment-friendly shopping bags could be produced using the same machines which produced polythene bags, and there is no chance of unemployment of workers to polythene factories.

He urged the meeting to take up the technology the commission innovated to eliminate polythene bags.

The participants agreed to hold a scientific presentation of the products where representatives of the government and private entrepreneurs will be present, sources said.

Jute and Textile Minister Shajahan Siraj said the BJMC mills and factories are ready to produce alternatives to polythene shopping bags if they find a viable technology for that.

Environment Minister Tariqul Islam stressed alternatives to polythene must be cost effective, environment friendly and long lasting.

President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Saiful Islam reiterated the business community's support for the ban on polythene bags and said their producers must opt for alternatives if they are cost effective and economically viable.