Unauthorised masks, hand sanitisers galore in markets

Amid growing demand of face masks and sanitisers, unscrupulous producers and contractors are pushing unauthorised and off-brand products into the markets, raising alarm about public health and safety.

Some of these products are ending up at reputed pharmacies in the capital, and according to some producers' claim, have been supplied to a government agency working in the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic as well. 

Law enforcers and Dhaka District Administration officers learned about these rackets after arresting around a dozen people from different areas of the city.

Criminal Investigation Department (CID) yesterday arrested five people in a drive from the capital's Wari and Narinda, who were allegedly producing unauthorised surgical masks for the last three months, additional superintendent of CID Rajib Farhan told The Daily Star.

CID also recovered 1.40 lakh surgical masks and 1,000kg mask making materials.

Rajib said one of the arrestees had a bag-making factory, and had imported machinery for it. But he started producing surgical masks in the factory after collecting fabric locally, after the coronavirus crisis hit the country, he said.

"In primary interrogation, Erman the arrestee said he used to get orders from different contractors, and supplied masks to them. He claimed that he also supplied these masks to a government agency working in the frontline," said Rajib.

The factory owner employed some 20 staffers to produce masks, and has supplied several lakh surgical masks so far, he said.

"We have got details of some contractors who he supplied these masks to. We are conducting drives to take action against these types of illegal factories and responsible persons behind these rackets," he added.

Meanwhile, a mobile court of Dhaka district administration in separate drives in the capital's Shahbagh area on Friday and Saturday fined pharmaceutical shop owners Tk 63,500 for selling fake sanitisers and disinfectant fluids.

Mahnaz Hossain Fariba, executive magistrate of district administration who led the drive, said Shahbagh has one of the central medicine markets of the country, and some renowned pharmacies were seen selling unauthorised products.

"We have come to know from pharmacy owners that some people are making sanitisers in different chemical factories in the capital's Mitford area and supplying them to the stores. They used lucrative-looking labels and packaging, and it becomes difficult to trace which are authorised and which are not," Fariba told The Daily Star.

"We are trying to get specific information of these illegal chemical factories so that we can conduct drive and take action against them," she added.

This correspondents recently visited two well-known pharmacies in the capital's Dhanmondi area to buy sanitisers, only to be told by the sales representatives that they have no products in stock from any renowned company. But they have some sanitisers of a new company. "We do not know about the authenticity of these products, but we are selling it and getting good response," said one of the representatives.

On a bottle, the product's name was simple 'Hand Sanitizer' and mentioned a factory located at Sanir Akhra of Dhaka.

HEALTH RISKS

Regarding the threat of using fake masks and sanitisers, Prof Dr Sultana Shahana Banu, head of virology department of Dhaka Medical College, said the use of low-quality medical equipment and masks are one of the prime reasons behind the rising number of infected cases in the country.

Wearing these fake masks, people move around and feel a fall sense of security, and that makes them susceptible to the virus, said the doctor.

Use of fake sanitisers can be more dangerous, as they may cause skin disease and sometime cancer, the doctor added.

LAW ENFORCOERS ON THE MOVE

Earlier on Friday, Dhaka Metropolitan Police conducted a drive in Mitford and Babu Bazar areas, and arrested seven people for selling unauthorised disinfectants and hand sanitisers. The team also recovered 1,900 litres of fake disinfectant liquid and 500 litre of sanitisers from their possession.

Mizanur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, said that they have gleaned some information on these syndicates and source of these liquids. "We are now conducting drives to take action against other members of the syndicates," he said.

Palash Rahman, assistant commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said a group of people are trying to make quick money by cheating people and selling low-quality masks and sanitisers. Police have started drives against these rackets, he added.

Md Aziullah, assistant director of Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) that authorises all medical and healthcare products, told The Daily Star, "We conduct surveys in the market and always take lawful action whenever we find fake masks and sanitisers being sold."

"We jointly conduct the drives with the district administration and the law enforcers," he added.