Desk News || Since the dawn of civilization, rivers have served as the lifeblood of human livelihood, communication, and culture. Tragically, however, these very rivers are now transforming into massive dumping grounds for polythene and plastic waste. It is not just our rivers; this silent killer, polythene, has wreaked havoc on human life. Its destructive impact extends far beyond human health, posing a severe threat to every aspect of the natural world. Although successive governments have announced various initiatives to ban polythene over the years, effective implementation has remained elusive. The question remains: how can we truly put a stop to it? We must strike at the very root, the point of production. Just as a tree does not die if only its upper branches are trimmed while the roots remain intact, the problem of polythene persists if the source is not addressed. Unless polythene manufacturing plants are completely shut down, it will be impossible to halt its use.In our country, whenever drives are conducted against polythene, the focus invariably falls on ordinary shopkeepers or small-scale retailers in open markets. Authorities often consider their duty fulfilled simply by seizing small quantities of polythene from these retailers. However, raids on sidewalks or retail markets will never succeed in stopping polythene sales. This principle applies not only to polythene but to any banned or harmful product; prevention is impossible unless the manufacturing plants, the very source of the problem—are permanently dismantled. Therefore, the key players behind polythene production must be identified, and their factories shut down for good. Only then will polythene disappear from the market forever. Polythene cannot be eradicated through token raids in open fields while the factories producing it continue to operate unabated. To completely eliminate any crime or harmful substance, one must strike at its very roots.Although the alarming extent of plastic pollution is frequently highlighted in the media, including in Dhaka, authorities often turn a blind eye to the issue. They seem to show little concern for permanently eradicating polythene. Across the country, polythene litters every landscape, from rivers and canals to wetlands and dry land. When digging the soil in rural areas for farming or planting trees, one often finds polythene buried deep underground; where such waste exists, neither trees nor crops can grow effectively. The situation is even more evident when observing rural ponds, canals, and rivers. Discarded plastic has been accumulating in river waters and on riverbeds for years. This contaminates fish and the aquatic environment, allowing invisible microplastic particles to enter the food chain. Ultimately, the pollution caused by discarded polythene, bottles, and packets finds its way back onto people's dinner plates. Consequently, plastic pollution is no longer merely a local environmental crisis; it has become a profound existential threat to public health and future generations.According to experts, plastic waste has been discovered as deep as 15 feet beneath the bed of the Buriganga River. An examination of the waste labels revealed that some items had been discarded 15 to 17 years ago, yet they appeared almost new. Research initiated in 2023 indicates that Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), a plastic widely used in bottles and food packaging, can take approximately 450 years to fully decompose. Over time, these persistent plastics break down into microplastics and disperse throughout the natural environment. Since polyethylene and plastic persist in the environment for centuries, today's waste poses a severe pollution burden for future generations.The impact of plastic and polyethylene pollution extends far beyond the murky waters of rivers. Tiny plastic particles enter the bodies of aquatic life and, moving up the food chain, inevitably find their way into the human body. A 2025 study revealed that fish caught in the Buriganga River contained significantly higher levels of microplastics compared to those from the Bay of Bengal. Earlier, a 2023 study had already detected microplastics in fish, crabs, and riverbed sediments in the Buriganga. Experts cited in various media reports indicate that microplastics are now being found not only in fish but also in essential daily food items such as salt, oil, and sugar. Global research is currently underway regarding the long-term effects of these harmful particles on the human body; however, various medical and environmental studies have raised serious concerns about potential risks of severe damage to reproductive, digestive, and respiratory health. This risk is particularly alarming for young children and demands urgent attention.The country's natural landscapes and protected forests are not spared from plastic and polyethylene pollution either; even a World Heritage site like the Sundarbans has fallen under its dark shadow. A 2025 study found an average of 23.25 microplastic particles per liter of water in the Sundarbans, identifying PET plastic as the primary pollutant. According to 2025 data from the Bangladesh Water Development Board, the country is home to 1,415 rivers—large and small—with a combined length of approximately 24,140 kilometers. Almost every one of these rivers is currently choked with polythene and plastic waste, severely disrupting the overall aquatic environment and the natural flow of the water.The picture of urban life is no different It is no different here. Discarded polythene and single-use food packets frequently clog the drains and sewers in city alleys during the rainy season; consequently, even light rainfall leads to waterlogging, causing immense public suffering. Across various cities in the country, rainwater accumulates and causes waterlogging due to obstructed drains. While millions of taka are spent to clear these blockages and keep the city free from waterlogging, it is unfortunate that the drains become clogged with polythene and plastic waste again shortly after these costly cleanup drives.The lack of enforcement regarding laws and bans is the root cause of this crisis. Although polythene shopping bags were first banned in Bangladesh in 2002, the ban has remained largely on paper for over two decades, while their rampant use continues unabated in the market. Authorities from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change have issued warnings and made preparations to conduct mobile court drives against illegal polythene factories. Plans have also been announced to ban single-use plastics in university campuses and tourist spots. In early September of this year, the High Court issued a strict directive to immediately remove plastic and other waste from the Islambagh, Lalbagh, and Kamrangirchar areas along the banks of the Buriganga River. However, merely issuing directives is not enough; the greatest and most difficult challenge lies in properly implementing them and ensuring their long-term benefits.The national action plan set specific targets: recycling 50 percent of plastic by 2025, phasing out 90 percent of single-use plastics by 2026, and reducing plastic production by 30 percent by 2030. It is crucial, however, that transparent and up-to-date information regarding the actual progress made toward these goals be made available to the public. Legislation could be enacted requiring any industrial enterprise or company to bear the full financial and legal responsibility for cleaning up pollution caused by its products in rivers or the environment; such a measure might well reduce pollution levels. Completely eliminating the use of single-use plastics is not impossible, provided there is political will and strict enforcement of the law.According to environmentalists and river experts, mere token gestures to clear river debris are insufficient; instead, there must be strict control at the source of waste, the development of modern recycling infrastructure, full accountability for commercial manufacturers, and the impartial and consistent application of existing laws. The accumulated plastic layers on the bed of the Buriganga River stand as silent witnesses to past irresponsibility. The bottles or polythene packets we thoughtlessly discard into the river today will leave behind tiny particles that persist in nature for ages, ultimately harming us. Thus, the initiative to save our rivers and nature is not merely a routine formality for environmental protection; it is an imperative step toward ensuring safe food, good health, and a secure future for the next generation. To triumph in this social and state-level battle against polythene, we must strike at the root, meaning the chimneys of manufacturing plants must be shut down forever.