Check quality of water sold in plastic bottles immediately

The High Court yesterday ordered the authorities concerned to immediately check the quality of water sold in plastic bottles and other containers across the country.

Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and law enforcing agencies have been asked to examine the water and submit the test reports to the HC in 15 days.

In response to a writ petition, the HC asked the respondents to take necessary steps to stop supplying and selling water in unauthorised bottles, containers and other means.

The court also issued a rule asking them to explain why they should not be directed to ensure the supply of safe drinking water through authorised means and why their failure to this effect should not be declared illegal.

Secretaries to the ministries of food and health, director general of the department of health services, director general of BSTI, inspector general of police, director general of Rapid Action Battalion and managing director of Wasa have been made respondents to the rule, petitioners' lawyer Advocate Md JR Khan Robin told The Daily Star.

The HC bench of Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif and Justice Razik-Al Jalil came up with the order and rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Shammi Akhter seeking necessary order on the respondents.

Citing the petition, Advocate Robin told The Daily Star that a total of 287 factories are authorised to produce plastic bottles, jars and other containers used for selling and supplying drinking water across the country.

Over 3,000 factories are producing plastic bottles and containers which are being used for supplying unsafe water, he added.