Anti-formalin drive Fresh fruit importers observe eight-hour shutdown today

Fresh fruits importers and suppliers will observe an eight-hour shutdown today (Saturday) in the city's Badamtoli area, a major hub for the fresh fruits wholesalers and suppliers in the country, protesting what they said harassment of traders in the name of anti-formalin drive.
They also threatened to stop import of all fresh fruits from Monday next, unless the government takes necessary steps to stop such harassment in the meantime.
"To realise the demand, the community people will observe shutdown from 6:00am to 2:00pm in the city's major fresh fruits wholesale markets. In addition, they will form a human chain in front of the National Press Club at about 11am on the day", said Sirajul Islam, General Secretary of Dhaka Mahanagar Fruits Import -Export and Merchants Multiple Co-operative Society Limited.
The trade leader, also Managing Director of Sathi Fresh Fruits Ltd, gave the warning while speaking at an emergency press conference in the city's Badamtoli area, adjacent to Sadarghat non Friday.
Among others, Treasurer of the importers' organisation Md Al-Amin and a community leader also proprietor of Mishu Traders Sadhan Chnadra Das were present on the occasion.
Mr Sirajul Islam said they have already agreed not to continue import of any variety of fresh fruits from Monday next, if the government does not take proper action in the meantime.
He alleged that the authorities concerned have been using wrong device to detect formalin in the fresh fruits including the imported ones during the so -called drive.
 "Across the country, the law enforcement agencies are using a device named 'formaldehyde-300', that is used for measuring air pollution", Mr Islam said adding that during the last few days' drive the law enforcement agencies unnecessarily smashed tonnes of fresh fruits worth several millions taka.
He said although prominent testing authorities like Institute of Science and Technology, Institute of Public Health and Bangladesh University of Science and Technology (BUET) did not  find existence of such dangerous elements in fruits, the police -conducted tests found existence of such elements.
Demanding immediate replacement of the existing formalin detector, the community leader said the government should take necessary action against the errant traders if the reputed testing institutions like BUET or BCSIR laboratory tests find such harmful elements.
 "Until the completion of laboratory test, fruits should be kept in seizure instead of instantly destroying those to save the traders from the unexpected punishment and financial losses", the leader said.
He, moreover, added that the law enforcement agencies are regularly harassing the fresh fruits traders physically and financially in the name of anti-formalin drive.
"During transportation of goods, a section of dishonest traffic police across the country collects money from the fruits businessmen in the name of fine, even without providing any document", the leader alleged.
The business leader said despite the payment of duties and other charges of the imported goods by the importers and even after the necessary examinations, the law enforcement agencies regularly harass the importers in many ways.