Staff Reporter :
In a bid to ensure the safety of food consumed during the holy month of Ramadan, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun announced on Sunday that the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has intensified its anti-adulteration drives through mobile courts across the country.
Addressing the media at a briefing held at BSTI headquarters in the city, Minister Humayun emphasised the importance of preventing the production and sale of adulterated foods, particularly during the upcoming Ramadan season.
He said, “Throughout the year, BSTI conducts mobile court and surveillance drives across the country. BSTI has strengthened its drives ahead of Ramadan to prevent the production of adulterated foods.”
The minister revealed that anti-adulteration drives would not be limited to Dhaka city alone but would also be conducted simultaneously at different upazilas (sub-districts) across the country. Regional offices of the BSTI have been tasked with conducting anti-adulteration drives at the district and upazila levels.
Humayun disclosed that BSTI has already collected samples of 616 food items, predominantly consumed during the fasting month of Ramadan, from various markets. Out of the received reports for 562 samples, 511 have been deemed safe and of acceptable quality.
To ensure the quality of drinking water during Ramadan, the minister mentioned that BSTI would closely monitor bottled water factories across the country using high-powered surveillance teams.
The minister further highlighted the results of BSTI’s efforts from July 2023 to February 2024, where 14 special mobile courts were conducted, resulting in approximately Taka 5.30 lakh being realized as fines, and one factory being sealed off.
The minister cautioned businessmen engaged in food adulteration, urging them to abstain from such malpractices. He emphasized the potential harm not only to consumers but also to the perpetrators’ own family members.
Providing an overview of BSTI’s recent activities, Minister Humayun stated that from July 2023 to February 2024, a total of 571 mobile courts were conducted, resulting in fines amounting to nearly Taka 2.47 crore. Additionally, 23 organizations were sealed off for producing adulterated foods.
Senior Secretary of the Industries Ministry, Zakia Sultana, and other senior officials of the ministry were present during the media briefing. As Bangladesh gears up for the holy month of Ramadan, the intensified efforts by BSTI aim to ensure the public’s access to safe and unadulterated food products.
