The Bangladesh Coast Guard seized 24 tonnes of banned polythene bags worth an estimated Tk 40.8 million during a raid in the capital's Lalbagh area early Tuesday.
The operation was conducted between 4:00am and 8:00am in the Lohar Bridge area along the Buriganga River under Lalbagh Police Station, Coast Guard Media Officer Lieutenant Commander Sabbir Alam Sujon said in a statement issued on Tuesday evening.
Acting on a tip-off, personnel from Coast Guard Station Pagla searched a suspicious truck and recovered 24,000 kilograms of banned polythene bags.
The seized polythene was later handed over to the Department of Environment's Narayanganj office for destruction.
The truck driver and his assistant were released after signing bonds, while the vehicle was also released.
The Coast Guard said it would continue conducting drives to curb the production, transportation and use of banned polythene products as part of efforts to protect the environment.
