Bangladesh has decided to ban the production and sale of black polythene as well as the import of the raw material for its manufacture. The move, approved by prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed, is the first step towards the total phasing out of polythene products from the country. Citing a study the environment secretary Syed Marghub Morshed said around six million poly bags were being used in Dhaka alone, of which only around 20 per cent could be recycled. The rest polluted the environment and clogged the drains.