Bangladesh is the second largest producer of jute in the world, following India. Despite the decline in demand, a Bangladeshi scientist has discovered a way to transform jute fibers into affordable, biodegradable cellulose sheets that can be used to create eco-friendly disposable bags resembling plastic. Mubarak Ahmad Khan, a scientific consultant for the state-run Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC), led the team that developed these new 'sonali' bags, named after the Bengali word for golden. These bags have similar physical properties to plastic bags and are biodegradable after three months in soil, as well as recyclable. Bangladesh is currently producing 2,000 of these bags per day on a trial basis, but plans to increase commercial production following an agreement signed last October with a British subsidiary of a Japanese green packaging company. In March, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina encouraged those involved in the project to help increase the widespread use of the golden bags for economic and environmental benefits. In April, the government allocated approximately $900,000 from Bangladesh's climate change trust fund to support the large-scale production of the bags. Mamnur Rashid, the general manager of the BJMC, stated that they aim to start commercial production of the sonali bag within six months once the project is fully operational. Bangladesh was among the first countries to prohibit the use of plastic and polythene bags in 2002 to prevent them from accumulating in water bodies and on land, but the ban has not been very effective. Currently, more than 60 countries, including China and France, have implemented bans on these bags in certain regions or cities, according to Khan. Khan stated that with the expansion of bans, over 100 Bangladeshi and international companies are interested in utilizing the new jute-based shopping bags. He mentioned that he receives daily inquiries from buyers in various countries such as Britain, Australia, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and France. Sabuj Hossain, director of Eco Bangla Jute Limited, expressed that there will likely be a high demand for the bags globally and his company aims to export 10 million bags per month in the future. Rashid of the BJMC stated that commercial production is set to begin towards the end of the year. Khan stated that even if all the jute produced in Bangladesh was used to make sacks, the country would only be able to meet a third of the expected demand. Despite Bangladesh's ban on plastic bags being almost twenty years old, millions of bags are still used each year due to a lack of alternatives and weak enforcement. The government estimates that about 410 million polythene bags are used in Dhaka each month, leading to environmental issues such as a build-up of discarded bags in waterways like the Buriganga River. Former deputy director general of the Department of Environment, Quazi Sarwar Imtiaz Hashmi, believes that the use of jute polymer bags will help alleviate pollution as they are biodegradable and decomposable.