The increasing use of polythene bags are causing a serious threat to environment and creating hazards to public health in the capital city. Shoppers are seen carrying commodities in polythene bags from markets despite a ban on it imposed by the government. Lack of awareness among the mass on the demerits of using polythene bags and irregular application of laws are widely responsible for indiscriminate use of polythene bags in urban and rural markets, said environmental experts. City's environment is now in dire peril due to massive use of polythene, they opined. Dumping polythene bags in drains instead of specific places are obstructing smooth passage of water and creating water stagnation in roads and lanes during the rainy season in the city, they added. They said that if jute bags were available and cheaper than the users would prefer to buy 'the environment friendly bags ' instead of polythene one. Sellers of polythene bag said they are selling polythene bags because of its cheap price to the customers. Customers at different kitchen markets said they usually prefer to use polythene bags due to its cheap price and waterproof quality despite being a health risk. A medium size jute bag usually costs Tk 20 to Tk 25 which is too high for us to buy, said a customer at Kaptan Bazar in the city yesterday. The prolonged use of polythene bags causes cancer, skin diseases and other health problems, said medical experts. They said that the hazards of polythene multiply manifolds when it is used to package breads, biscuits, potato chips and other food items. They demanded maintaining the quality grade of polythene while packing any food item. Since there are no facilities for the proper disposal of used polythene bags in the city and the rest of the country, the discarded polythene are usually burned in open fields in Islampur, Jatrabari, Lalbagh and other areas of the country. And people who are engaged in burning used polythene are also seriously endangering their life and health. Hydrogen cyanide, a poisonous gas is produced when polythene is burned in open fields and landfills and may cause serious health problems to the people who inhale it. According to a study by an environment and social development organisation on an average each family in the metropolitan city collect six polythene bags every day and throw away four of them. As a result nearly 5.2 million used polythene bags are discarded in the capital city everyday.