Special drives in Ramadan

Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) will conduct special drives across the country to prevent sale of adulterated food during Ramadan, Industries Minister Dilip Barua said yesterday.
“BSTI will work with mobile courts at district and upazila levels to fine wrongdoers in the food business throughout Ramadan,” the minister told reporters at his secretariat office.
Some dishonest traders mix chemicals and other harmful elements in drinking water, dates, puffed rice, juice and other popular Iftar items as their demand rise sharply during Ramadan, he said.
Although chemicals are dangerous to human health, a section of unscrupulous businessmen uses those to make a quick buck, he added.
They not only cheat customers by mixing chemicals but also manipulate the measurement, he said.
Barua said he has already instructed BSTI officials to form surveillance teams in case magistrates are unavailable for drives.
The mobile courts and special surveillance teams will also conduct drives to prevent bad practices in production, sales, marketing and cheating in measurement of 153 products, he added.
Last year, the BSTI conducted 1,291 drives, formed 518 surveillance teams, filed 1,966 cases and fined Tk 4.38 crore.