3000 meters current nets, 1000 meters china nets seized, destroyed

Ashraful Islam Joy & Sirajul Islam Shishir:

A mobile court here on Sunday fined SS Madina Potato Chips factory of Bonbaria Ramgati area under Kaliya Haripur union in Sirajganj Sadar upazila Tk 1 lakh for using toxic chemical dyes and producing food items in an unhygienic environment.

The mobile court led by Assistant Commissioner (land) Afifan Nazmu raided the food producing and processing factory, and imposed the mentioned amount of fine due to violating the health safety rules and other terms and conditions.

Photo: TDS

The AC-land Afifan Nazmu said, “During our drive, we found that, substandard flour was using by the unauthorized institution instead of potatoes to produce chips. Besides, toxic chemical dyes were used to produce the food items which are very injurious to the health of kids. Not only that, the environment of the factory was very poor and unhealthy.”

“To ensure healthy and safe food supply for the children, we are determined to conduct such as mobile court regularly. Our effort will be continued,” he added.

It is to be mentioned that, SS Madina Potato Chips, owned by local BNP leader Ekabbar Ali Akbar was set up at Baniapatti area of Bonpara’s Ramgati in the upazila in 2019 without any legal proceeding. It has no approval of BSTI as well as health certificate of the concerned sanitary department. No health directive was followed by its workers while producing and processing the food items for the children.

During the operation of the mobile court, Food Safety Officer Md. Atiqur Rahman and police personnel were also present there.

Photo: TDS

Apart from this, the mobile court also conducted raid at different points of Jamuna River including Charmalshapara, Borni and Soyashakha in the Sadar upazila with the aim to prevent fishing and selling of Hilsa fries, locally known as ‘Jatka’ that are less than 10 inches in length marking the Jatka Conservation Week.

Photo: TDS

During the drive, the mobile court also seized and destroyed 3000 meters of current nets and 1000 meters of China nets.

Senior Upazila Fisheries Officer Anwar Hossain among others was also present in the drive.