Fruit prices soar in city amid anti-formalin drive

The ongoing crackdown on use of formalin in fruits has seriously disrupted the supply chain of seasonal fruits, thus raising their prices significantly, traders said.
According to them, the supply of seasonal fruits, including mango, litchi, jackfruit and jambul etc, has decreased by almost 80 per cent amid the drives conducted at different entry points of the capital and elsewhere in the city.
The fruit sellers alleged that the retailers have become victims of the drives though they never apply formalin or any other detrimental chemical on fruits. Formalin is being used by the fruit wholesalers in or outside Dhaka, they added.
The government began the drives against the malpractice on June 9. On June 13, Dhaka Metropolitan Police set eight check-posts in different areas of the city to stop entering of formalin-treated fruits to the capital. Some five mobile courts are also conducting drives in fruit shops across the city.
Meanwhile, the retailers are planning to stop selling all kinds of fruits, including the imported ones, due to incurring loss amid the drives.
"We are discussing with other retailers in the metropolitan area about not selling fruits for an indefinite period," said a fruit seller at Hatirpool kitchen market.  He said the fruit retailers in the capital already held a meeting to start the shutdown from June 20.  
"The magistrates, policemen and BSTI officials of mobile courts raid our shops and whichever they test find formalin-treated. But we never ever use any formalin," he said, asking why they would be punished for the crime they did not commit.
"If any fruit is formalin-soaked, how would we know? Are we trained for this? We do not want to sell formalin-treated fruits, so we've decided to stop selling fruits," he added.
Meanwhile, the prices of mangoes rose by Tk 30-40 a kilogram and that of litchi by Tk 50-100 a bundle (100 pieces) over the week.
A trader at Rajabazar kitchen market said the langra variety of mango is now selling at Tk 110-120 a kg and the himsagar variety at Tk 100 a kg, which were Tk 90 and Tk 80 respectively last week. The price of litchi also increased to Tk 350-400 a bundle from Tk 250-300 a week ago.
He said a supply shortage has pushed up the prices of these seasonal fruits, as their supply has been disrupted due to the government's anti-formalin drive. A fruit-seller at Karwan Bazar said, "We welcome the government's drives against chemically-treated fruits. But it is unfortunate that a number of consignments that were not chemically-treated have also been destroyed."
The drives have created a panicky situation among the fruit growers and traders, he added.
Kamol Prasad Das, director (CM) of BSTI (Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute) agreed that the retailers may not use formalin or other chemicals, but they are selling formalin-treated fruits.
"Only through conducting extensive drives, we can ensure formalin-free fruits in the city."
He said BSTI runs usual drives round the year, but these drives could not ensure chemical-free fruits in the city's kitchen markets.
The BSTI director also urged the agriculture department to train farmers about alternative ways to preserve fruits and other perishable vegetables or fishes.
"There are many ways to preserve perishable kitchen items in a healthy manner," he added.
A BSS report adds, the government has decided to strengthen the ongoing drives against food adulteration across the country.
The decision came Tuesday from a meeting of senior officials of the ministries and departments concerned at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
Principal Secretary to PMO Abul Kalam Azad chaired the meeting, which was also attended, among others, by director general (DG) of PMO Paban Chowdhury.
The meeting stressed conducting drives at sources of the hazardous and toxic substances like formalin, so that the misuse of these poisonous materials in food items can be stopped.
PMO DG Kabir Bin Anwar said the government has decided to enhance vigilance at entry points and sources of the food items side by side with various shopping malls, grocery shops and kitchen markets. He said importers would have to inform the local administration and departments concerned about their consignments.
The meeting instructed the authorities concerned to engage local market committees with the process, so that the drives against food adulteration can be carried out effectively.
He said the government has also decided to engage 10 more magistrates for strengthening mobile court drives against food adulteration.
Besides, all deputy commissioners have been asked to conduct mobile court drives against the use of deadly chemicals in food items, he further said.