Stop import of chemical treated food

A businessman filed a writ petition seeking High Court directive on the government to stop the import, distribution and sale of all foodstuffs treated with formalin and other poisonous chemicals in the country.
M Helal Uddin, a director of Federation of Bangladesh
Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), filed the petition on Monday also praying to the court to order the government to set up adequate testing kits at all the ports and markets across the country to ensure that only the food items which are not adulterated are imported and sold.
After holding a hearing on the petition yesterday, the HC bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Kazi Md Ejarul Haque Akondo fixed today for passing an order on it.
During the hearing, petitioner's counsel AM Aminuddin told the court that chemical treated fruits, fish, milk and other food items are harmful for human body, but are flooding the markets across the country.
Citing reported incidents of 13 children who had died after eating chemically treated litchis in Dinajpur early this year, the counsel said the authorities concerned had failed to discharge their constitutional duties to prevent the use of poisonous chemicals within food items and ensure the victims' right to life.
Aminuddin also prayed to the court to ask the authorities to create mass awareness through media campaigns about the hazardous effects of eating foods treated with poisonous chemicals.