• Sanitary inspectors blamed each others on question of jurisdiction

Saiful Islam back from Ullapara:

Allegation has been intensified that bakery foods are being produced at different factories in Ullapara upazila of Sirajganj district floating hygienic rules that posing serious threat to the public health.

Though, such activities are going on in front the nose of authorities concerned, the sanitary inspectors of Sirajganj district, Ullapara upazila and Ullapara municipality have been plying silence role instead of taking action against the acts due to unknown reasons.

In contrary, they blamed each others for their inactiveness raising jurisdictional question. In this circumstance, question has been raised that, who will tie the bell around the cat’s neck?

According to the sources, there are ten to twelve bakeries including Abdullah Bread and Biscuit Factory at Ghosgati, Tusar Bakery at the same area, Habib Bakery at Baroiya village, Saban Bakery at Rail Station area, Riva Food and Biscuit at Dhopakandi village, Beauty Bakery at Panchilia village, Mayer Doa Bakery and Sathi Bakery at Purba Delua village in Ullapara upazila of the district. But, most of the bakeries have no BSTI and environment certificates as well as approval of concerned sanitary officials, it is alleged.

On the other hand, due to lax-vigilance by the authorities concerned, various types of food items like breads, biscuits, toast biscuits, jelly, birthday cakes, vegetable rolls, pastry, singara and samosa are being produced in the bakeries regularly amidst unhygienic condition that posing serious health risk to the consumers.

Those foods are being supplied to different areas in and outside of the upazila after covering with various colorful packets and poly bags.

As a result, people are purchasing and consuming those without hesitation due to lack of hygienic knowledge.

During a spot visit to Abdullah Bread and Biscuit Factory in Ghoshgati area in Ullapara Municipality, this correspondent found that, foods were produced in dirty, damp and unhygienic conditions in the bakery.

Though, it is mandatory for factory workers to maintain some health regulations including regular health checkup, using gloves during food productions, keeping clean and hygienic to the factory environment to evade dusts and other nuisance of insects or outside animals like rats, cats and dogs, the bakeries are producing and supplying various food items violating the rules and regulations due to lack of monitoring by the authorities concerned, locals said.

Foods are being produced beside cow dung floating hygienic directives. Photo: TDS

The correspondent also noticed that samosas and singaras were produced in the factory beside the piles of cow dung.

Talking to this correspondent, Aynul Haque Akanda, Owner of the factory stated that, “All bakeries in the upazila are carrying brisk business amid such environment. But no one of the authorities concerned barred us so far. This is why, we have become habituated to produce foods in such environment.”

Md. Azgar Ali, Sanitary Inspector of Ullapara Upazila, said, “Most of the bakeries are locating in the municipality area. So, municipal sanitary inspector is responsible to take action and prevent such illegal activities. I am not responsible alone.”

When asked about the unhygienic practices, District Sanitary Inspector (DSI) Md. Ali Newaz Chowdhury said, “Local upazila administration in collaboration with upazila or municipal sanitary inspector can conduct drive against violation of food producing rules.”

“How the District Sanitary Inspector alone will monitor such illegal works in all nine upazilas of the district,” he made counter question.

Regarding food preparation in unhygienic conditions, Ullapara Municipality Sanitary Inspector Ali Ahmed Ratan said, “If bakeries produce foods in dirty, damp or unhygienic conditions, they should be brought to book. But upazila sanitary inspector cannot avert his responsibility on the plea of jurisdiction.”

Locals urged the high-ups to take necessary steps in this regard for the sake of public health.