FE Report
Rights activists have called for sternly dealing with adulteration of food, including iftar items, with increased monitoring for the sake of public health during Ramadan.
They also urged the government to properly implement the existing laws, penalise the entities responsible for food adulteration and intensify monitoring of the food safety condition.
They made the call at a human chain programme on Satury demanding measures to ensure safety of iftar and other food items during the holy month of fasting, a statement said.
Activists of Poribesh Bachao Andolon (POBA) and Save the Environment Movement, along with representatives of 15 other civil rights organisations formed the human chain in front of Chawkbazar Shahi Mosque, the place famous for traditional Iftar items, in old Dhaka.
Presided over by POBA chairman Abu Naser Khan, the event was attended by its secretary M A Wahed, president of Bangladesh Volunteers Association Imon Alam, and president of Puran Dhaka Nagorik Udyog Najim Uddin.
The speakers observed that the items which are consumed most during Ramadan are adulterated by various means.
Vegetables are grown fast artificially by using hormone and fruits are ripened within hazardous chemicals much ahead of the time to do brisk business in this holy month, they noted.
They also alleged that various harmful chemicals like formalin are used to preserve various food items taking the opportunity of lax monitoring by the agencies concerned.
The rights activists placed a seven-point demand, including proper implementation of the existing laws relevant to food safety, exemplary punishment for the accused, initiating social entrepreneurship to grow safe food and creating public awareness about food safety.
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