Dhaka, Nov. 2 -- In 2002, Bangladesh made global headlines by becoming the first country in the world to ban thin plastic shopping bags. It was a pioneering step towards environmental protection, driven in part by the role of plastic bags in clogging drainage systems and worsening flooding.

Yet, the decision had to be effectively recycled 22 years later from square one, which itself showed the abject failure across governments to implement the 2002 decision.

However, following the formation of the interim government in 2024, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan introduced strict measures to reduce single-use plastic, particularly polythene bags.

Key initiatives included banning plastic and polypropylene ba...