B Mirror Report: The Department of Jute has collected fines amounting to Tk 45,81,970 through drives conducted across the country in the first nine months of the current fiscal year for violations of the jute packaging law.

During the period from July 2025 to March 2026, a total of 655 mobile courts were operated nationwide to enforce compliance with the “Mandatory Jute Packaging Act, 2021,” officials concerned said.

Director of the Department of Jute, Uttom Kumar Mondol, said the fines were realised during enforcement drives, while several offenders were also sentenced to imprisonment under the law.

He noted that mobile courts, led by executive magistrates along with Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNOs), Assistant Commissioners (Land), and department officials, carried out operations in different districts to ensure the use of jute-made bags for packaging designated products.

Under the law, the use of jute sacks has been made compulsory for 19 types of goods, including paddy, rice, wheat, maize, sugar and fertiliser. The list has been expanded over time to include items such as ginger, garlic, onion, lentils, chilli, turmeric, coriander, flour, powdered milk, poultry feed and fish feed.

Officials said strict enforcement of the law would help expand employment opportunities, protect the environment and reduce reliance on harmful plastic packaging, while safeguarding the interests of jute farmers and mill owners.

The department has set a target to conduct 1,100 drives in the next fiscal year (2026–27) to further strengthen enforcement.

Mondol also said regular drives are being carried out to prevent hoarding of raw jute. As per regulations, no trader is allowed to stock more than 500 maunds of raw jute or store it for more than one month. Violators are fined and required to release the stock into the market within three to seven days.

Currently, around 11,000 licences of various categories have been issued by the department for jute-related businesses, including exporters, manufacturers, brokers, balers and dealers.

Director General of the Department of Jute, Syed Md Nurul Basir, said full implementation of the law would boost rural economic activities, generate employment and contribute to sustainable development.

He added that after meeting domestic demand, a portion of locally produced jute is exported, mainly to India and Pakistan.

The director general also stressed the need to ensure timely payment to farmers, urging millers to purchase jute during the peak season. He further emphasised continued support for farmers through the provision of quality seeds and fertilisers to sustain interest in jute cultivation.