BSTI destroys 4,000 unauthorised water jars

A mobile court yesterday realised Tk 1.33 lakh as fine from 12 companies in the capital's Motijheel and Paltan for selling so-called filtered jar water without the approval of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI).

Ten of the companies did not have any license while two had expired licenses and the water quality was very low, said Reazul Haque, assistant director of BSTI.

Eleven of the companies are: Mou Drinking Water, Meem Fresh Drinking Water, Everest Drinks and Dairy Products Ltd, Winner Fresh Drinking Water, Sensible Beverage Industries Ltd, Finkua Water Company, Arifa Agro Private Ltd, Oneoak Food and Beverage, Dighi Pure Drinking Water, Al Hera Enterprise, and Noakhali Food and Beverage, said a press release.

The team, led by BSTI's Executive Magistrate Nazma Siddiqa, also destroyed 4,000 water jars on the first day of the drive.

The Daily Star on December 26 last year ran a report under the headline “'Safe water' in jar mostly unsafe”, citing a study of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (Barc) according to which 98 percent of jar water samples collected from 24 points of the capital contained bacterium faecal E. coli.

The presence of E. coli indicates that other pathogenic bacteria and viruses, responsible for diseases like cholera, typhoid, dysentery and jaundice, may also be found in the water, said the study.

BSTI yesterday resumed the drive against unsafe drinking water after a long interval. The drive will continue on a regular basis to ensure safe water, said the assistant director.

Welcoming the drive, Awlad Hussain Rajib, president of Pure Drinking Water Manufacturing Association of Bangladesh, said, “The drive should continue to check the fake and unauthorised companies. This initiative will make others conscious of providing safe water.”