Two-year jail for fish adulteration

The cabinet yesterday, in principle, approved a draft law raising jail terms for adulterated fish production and marketing from three months to two years in its weekly meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

“The cabinet approved the draft of Fish and Fish Products (Inspection and Quality Control) Act 2019 to strengthen monitoring to ensure fish quality at production and marketing levels,” Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam told a news briefing.

He said under the proposed law, one would face jail terms up to two years, which was previously three months. “The new law would stop adulteration and help maintain quality of fish and fish products,” he said.

At the meeting, a book titled “Bangla Bhashar Bangabandhu”, a collection of writings on Bangabandhu's contribution to the Language Movement and promotion of mother tongue by famous personalities, was handed over to the prime minister.

Hasina unveiled the book's cover, designed under Liberation War Affairs Ministry's supervision. Jatri Publication is its publisher.

About the fish and fish products act, the cabinet secretary said it is translated into Bangla as per the Supreme Court's directive and no major changes are made in the law.

Quality of fish in production and marketing was so far being conducted in line with Fish and Fish Products (Inspection and Quality Control) Ordinance, 1983.

Alam said the proposed law increased the fine from Tk 5,000 to Tk 5 lakh for production and marketing of adulterated fish. The punishment would be doubled for repeating identical offense.

The law kept a provision of “administrative punishment” under which one could be fined up to Tk 5 lakh for using harmful ingredients.

Alam said the new law prescribed a mandatory provision which would obligate all fish firms to obtain registration and take health certificate from authorities concerned for trading. The firms, he said, would have to appoint quality assurance managers.

Also, he said, Sugarcrop Research Institute Act would replace Bangladesh Sugarcane Research Institute Act 1996 as several other crops like palm, date and gol pata are being used to produce sugar.

The proposed legislation added a provision to nominate a representative from Bangladesh Council for Scientific and Industrial Research.

The words, Port Lighthouse Authority, have been added in the “Bangladesh Lighthouse Act, 2019”, he said. The proposed law suggests that all ships using Bangladeshi ports must pay the lighthouse charges. If a ship fails to pay the dues, it could be seized.

The cabinet congratulated Hasina for winning “Lifetime Contribution for Women Empowerment Award” by Institute of South Asian Women.

It also took a condolence motion for the terror attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand.