Contaminated rice

Md Mustafa's experience at Hawaii airport, published in the Financial Express on  October 11, is an eye-opener for all of us. If rice which he possibly bought from a rice shop in Dhaka could be contaminated with chemicals, then how, when and where can we end this gross criminal activity that seems to have even reached the grassroots of Bangladesh?

It was interestingly tested at the airport by the US custom department in about 15 minutes. Someone must have done the test quickly. If so, why can not we have this test facility in Bangladesh? Will the authorities kindly respond to this vital question in overall interest of public health? Our authorities may contact the US officials and request them to let us know about such test facilities and set it up in Bangladesh as soon as possible. This could be the most valuable aid that the US government can give us at the soonest to detect the mass-scale contamination of rice, wheat, pulses and such other food crops. This informative feature isan eye-opener for us.

I wonder if boiling the rice as well as pulse and the baking of bread and making 'chapati' or 'paratha' needs well above 100 degree temperature on the stove to remove the ill effect of the contaminant? Will the Rice Research Institute (BRRI) and their experts carry out tests on our rice, atta, moida, and various pulses, and let us be publicly informed of their findings for overall public health safety concern?

Engr S A Mansoor

Dhaka