Salt manufacturers demand restricting import of sodium sulphate

Salt manufacturers of the country have urged the government to restrict import of sodium sulphate, which is harmful for human body.

“Bangladesh’s salt industry is in trouble as import of sodium sulphate has increased,” said Nurul Kabir, president of Bangladesh Salt Mills Owners Association, at a press conference at the National Press Club on Monday.

The leaders of the association claimed that nearly half of 300 salt factories are going to shut down because of this.

They urged the government to save the local salt industry by controlling sodium sulphate import.

People are buying white salt which is actually sodium sulphate – it is harmful to the human body, Nurul said.

“Enough salt has been stocked for upcoming Eid-ul-Adha,” he said, requesting tanners to use local salt instead of harmful sodium sulphate.

The government sets import target for salt on the basis of estimation by the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC).