BSTI to conduct special drive to check food adulteration in Ramadan

The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) has announced a special drive to prevent food adulteration across the country during Ramadan, the fasting month for Muslims. 

As part of the initiative, the BSTI will operate three mobile courts daily in the Dhaka city, said Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun at a press conference in Dhaka today, 

During the drive, food and beverages like fruits, fruit syrups, dates, raisins, soft drink powders, carbonated beverages, cooking oil, mustard oil, ghee, processed milk, noodles, vermicelli, water and dextrose monohydrate that are mostly consumed by fasting individuals, will be monitored by the BSTI, he said.

The minister said the BSTI will take punitive action against adulteration, counterfeiting, cheating in weighing and selling products at prices higher than government-fixed rates. "No one will be spared, whether the adulterer is a small or a large-scale one."

According to the BSTI, it will operate mobile courts in collaboration with the administration at the district and upazila levels, in addition to the Dhaka metropolis. At the same time, mobile courts will be operated jointly with RAB and Dhaka Metropolitan Police. 

During these operations, it will be monitored also to ensure that traders do not sell products at exorbitant prices.