State Minister Kamal seeks death penalty for food adulteration

Traders who adulterate food and cause harm to human health should be jailed for life or hanged, said State Minister for Industries Kamal Ahmed Majumder while speaking as a special guest at a discussion organised by the Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institute (BSTI) marking the World Metrology Day on Saturday.

The state minister also said that there is a need for collective efforts against those who adulterate food items and use inaccurate weighing scales. Journalists should also play their part in this regard.

He also urged the BSTI to play an important role in closing down factories that are making juice with colours which are very harmful to humans. A few such factories were shut down in the past.

"A group of profit-mongers and anti-Liberation War people want to drag down the progress of the country by adulterating food," the state minister furthered.

Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, who was present as the chief guest at the event, said that businessmen need to fix their mindset and put in a sincere effort to ensure food safety.

"As the country is going to achieve LDC graduation, we will need to improve the quality of our food items. People who adulterate food products should be excluded from trade associations and blacklisted," he added.

Petrol Pump Owners Association President Nazmul Haque said the BSTI raids and fines petrol pumps up to Tk40,000 in case of weight manipulation, but imposing fines alone cannot stop this crime. The BSTI should raid the depots from where fuels are brought.

Pump owners have found 80 litres of fuel missing in one tank truck of fuel sent from depots. The price of 80 litres is Tk12,000 whereas the profit of one tank truck fuel is Tk17,000.

Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries President Jasim Uddin said that compared to other countries, food adulteration is more frequent in Bangladesh. Many countries have strict laws to protect it. Bangladesh should also introduce such laws.

Non-packaged oil, sugar, etc are still sold in the country, which should be stopped. The government, administration and the BSTI have to work together in this regard, he added.

Directorate of National Consumers' Right Protection Director General AHM Shafiquzzaman said, "During our drives across the country, we have found a 100-gram soap, manufactured by a very popular company, weighs 96 grams. So, we should raid the factories where the soaps are made."