The authority of Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) will carry out special drives against substandard and adulterated food across the country during the holy month of Ramadan, considering the interests of consumers.
Elaborating the activities of BSTI during the fasting month, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun at a press briefing on Saturday said BSTI will carry out its surveillance activities with additional mobile courts apart from the existing ones to ensure safe foods for the consumers.
"The mobile courts led by executive magistrates will act in the capital throughout the month of Ramadan including holidays," he told the press briefing held at his ministry.
The minister said the mobile courts in cooperation with the law enforcement agencies (police and RAB) will keep strict surveillance to ensure proper weight of the products and prevent sales of adulterated food including Iftar and Sehri items which are being sold by hotels and restaurants.
Apart from the capital city, he said, the mobile courts will conduct drives in Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Manikganj,Tangail, Narsingdi, Gazipur, Kishoreganj and other districts.
The directives were also given to the divisional and district BSTI offices to carry out mobile court drives at upazila level with help from the local administration, he added.
Mr Humayun said the mobile teams will also intensify its monitoring with an aim to prevent selling of substandard and harmful soft drinks/carbonated beverage, mustard oil, soft drinks powder, pasteurized milk, puffed rice, edible oils, instant noodles, vermicelli, date and iftar items. BSTI will also distribute leaflets to create awareness among the consumers about their rights to safe foods.
He called upon the media people to highlight the success stories of mobile courts that will be helpful for the consumers to know about the government's activities to stop selling unhealthy and adulterated foods during Ramadan.
BSTI, which is under the industries ministry, conducts drives with its mobile courts against substandard and adulterated food throughout the year for protecting the rights of consumers.
During the holy month of Ramadan, it (BSTI) intensifies its drives to protect the interests of consumers.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com