'Introduce harsher punishment to check food adulteration'

Journalist and TV Presenter Mohammad Jahangir speaks at a discussion titled 'Find permanent strategies for drive against adulteration' organised by the Federation of NGOs in Bangladesh (FNB) at the National Press Club in the city yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

They suggested introducing harsher punishment to check widespread adulteration of food items.

Referring to on-going drive against adulteration of food and drug in the city, the speakers said mobile courts may not continue the drive forever.

But such action is needed as a sustainable strategy to penalise the perpetrators who commit such crimes, they added.

The discussion titled 'Find permanent strategies for drive against adulteration' was organised by the Federation of NGOs in Bangladesh (FNB) at the National Press Club in the city.

Borhan Ahmed, executive editor of daily Janakantha, said, "As consumers we are not able to lodge direct complaints against the perpetrators for adulteration that put public health at risk."

He suggested formulating laws that would allow public to lodge lawsuit against committing such crimes that threaten public health.

Tajul Islam, director of the FNB, said, "Citizen's role could bring a permanent supervisory responsibilities that can eventually exercise authority in ensuring routine drives by any legal body to supervise and check adulteration."

Advocate Shah Deen Malik in his keynote paper recommended introducing harsher punishment under the current Special Powers Act, 1974 to bring the perpetrators in the books. Besides, setting up of consumer courts through a consumer act can be an effective tool for victims to claim or realise their compensation, he added.

Advocate Syeda Rizwana Hasan, executive director of Bangladesh Environment Lawyers' Association (Bela), said, "Apart from checking adulteration it is also necessary to check if the manufacturers of food items declare ingredients in the label. Once the ingredients are declared manufacturers may hesitate to contaminate the food item with other sub-standard substance(s)."

Dr Md Ibrahim, executive director of CMES, pointed out that the mobile court's drive against adulterated food is focused on the elite society only.

"In fact, many people suffer from consuming adulterated food outside the metropolitan areas. So it is also required to launch similar drives in rural areas," he said.

Bazlur Rahman, editor of daily Sangbad said, "We have done the ground work by launching the drives against the perpetrators. It is now time for launching a massive movement to make people aware of adulterated food and allied products. Once people are aware of the situation, demand would automatically come for public health safety."

Abul Khair, senior reporter of daily Ittefaq, informed that the government has decided to launch as many as 37 mobile courts during the month of Ramadan in the city and introduce harsher punishment to check food adulteration.

Prof A B M Faruk of Dhaka University suggested regulating advertisement of all food and allied products.

He said, "It is often noticed that the advertisers attract people to consume harmful products without considering long-term public health risks. Controlling the ads may substantially reduce the abuse."

Kazi Faruk of Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) and Abul Hasib Khan of RIC also spoke.

Journalist and TV Presenter Mohammad Jahangir moderated the discussion.