The cabinet approved Monday a draft law for the control of a menacing spread of use of formalin, even in foodstuffs, with provisions of life-term imprisonment as maximum and seven years' jail as minimum punishment for illegal dealing in the toxic substance.
As another deterrent punitive measure, the law in the making also provides for Tk 2.0 million fines for the offence of possessing, carrying and selling formalin illegally.
Deputy Commissioners and upazila nirbahi officers are empowered by the law to monitor and control the use of this health-hazardous substance, formalin.
The quid is made by mixing formaldehyde and water and used for preserving biological specimens, making plastics and as a disinfectant. But it is now being used rampantly and mindlessly to preserve edible items.
Approval to 'The Formalin Control Act 2014' was given at the regular weekly meeting of the cabinet with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
"The draft law did not propose ban on formalin rather it suggested tougher punishment to regulate its production, import, transport, stock, sale and use without licence," cabinet secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told the media after the cabinet meeting held in the conference room of the cabinet division.
The move to enact an anti-formalin law came following its widespread use as preservative in fish, fruit and other food items, which is posing a serious threat to public health.
To resist the harmful chemical-mixed fruits from entering the capital, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) launched a special drive on June 11 and huge quantities summer fruits, especially mango and litchi, were destroyed.
However, traders alleged wrong kits were used to detect formalin. And Metropolitan Fruit Traders Association went on a strike on June 19 in protest against the drive. After two days, they call the strike on assurances from the authorities concerned that the fruit traders would not be "harassed".
The cabinet secretary further said the draft law was first approved in principle by the cabinet on November 4, 2013. The ministry of commerce (MoC) held several consultative meetings with scientists and other stakeholders before placing the draft with the cabinet for final approval Monday.
With six chapters and 37 sections the law also kept a provision of maximum seven years of imprisonment or TK 0.5 million fines, or both, in case of violating the terms of licence, he added.
He said the proposed law also has the provision of maximum 10 years of imprisonment and Tk 2.0 fine for possessing the equipment of formalin production.
Besides, maximum seven years imprisonment or Tk 0.5 million fine were also proposed for keeping the formalin in house, office and in vehicles .
"The offences under the law would be cognizable and it would be non-bailable," the cabinet secretary said.
For quick action, he said, the law could be enforced through mobile court although the law has the provision of higher punishment.
The government would constitute 'Formalin Control Committee' at district and upazila levels to supervise the implementation of the law.
Also, the cabinet gave final nod to the 'Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute Act 2014' to give a legal shape to the Bangladesh Oceanographic Research Institute which is being set up at Ramu in Cox's Bazar under a development project being implemented by the ministry of science and technology.
"The institute would be a permanent autonomous body to be operated by an 18-member board of directors headed by the secretary concerned of the ministry of science and technology," the cabinet secretary said.
He said the government will appoint a Director General (DG) for the institute and the board of directors will comprise representatives from the various ministries, expert on oceanography and from Navy.
The proposed law aims to play a significant role in extraction of the country's marine resources alongside ensuring its proper use. It (the proposed law) will have 21 sections and will go to parliament for its consideration.
The cabinet also directed the ministry of public administration to come up with a law integrating and evaluating three proposed laws of same nature placed before the cabinet yesterday, namely, 'The Government Servants (Special Provision) Ordinance 1979', 'The Public Servants (Dismissal of conviction) Ordinance 1985' and 'The Public Employees Discipline (On punctual attendance) Ordinance 1982'.
The ministry of public administration placed the three proposed laws in the cabinet meeting in Bengali in line with a previous cabinet decision of framing a number of ordinances in to laws which were promulgated during two military governments and were declared null and void by a higher court.
The cabinet was also apprised about the participation of the foreign minister in the 4th Summit of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) held in Shanghai, China, on 20-21 May 2014 as well as Bangladesh getting full membership of the CICA.
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