World Standards Day observed

Speakers yesterday expressed their grave concern over the growing trends in adulteration that seems to include everything from water and food to vegetables.
They made the observation about the contaminated and dangerous elements mixed particularly with foodstuff at a discussion organised by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) at its office in the city, to mark the World Standards Day 2011.
“There is a competition of adulteration. It is evident almost in every food items,” said Asaduzzman Khan Kamal, a lawmaker from the ruling Awami League. “I am shocked. It gives me pain,” he said.
Industries Minister Dilip Barua also admitted the presence of the menace. “We want it (adulteration) to go,” said Barua.
Food adulteration seems to cross all its limits nowadays. Unscrupulous businessmen now tamper food in order to boost their profits. The use of toxic chemicals like formalin, pesticides, industrial dyes and urea in different food and foodstuffs has grown significantly throwing the human health into great risk.
But a businessman at the programme claimed they do not adulterate and demanded postponement of BSTI drive against adulteration.
“No businesses were fined for adulteration, rather it was for infrastructural weaknesses,” said Mohammad Jalaluddin, president of Bangladesh Bread and Biscuit Manufacturers Association.
He said they start a business with a trade licence and no one gives them training on how to produce food and its safety measures.
Jasimuddin, vice president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said the anti-adulteration drive should include representatives from the business sector.
The industries minister also said infrastructural weaknesses are the faults of the businessmen and they should address it. “We'll give them policy support only,” said Barua.
He expressed hope that accreditation by Indian authority would help increase Bangladesh's exports to the neighbouring country.
India's national Accreditation Board for Calibration and Testing Laboratories has allowed accreditation to BSTI's food, microbiology, cement and textile labs for a period of two years.
BSTI Director General AK Fazlul Ahad and Industries Secretary KH Masud Siddiqui also spoke on the occasion.